Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 17 October 1951
Aircraft Type: Consolidated Canso A
Owner/operator: Queen Charlotte Airlines
Registration Number: CF-FOQ
Location: Mt. Benson, BC –
ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: Aircraft Navigation SystemAircraft Navigation System
Category: Accident
A VFR flight into adverse weather conditions resulted in a crash into Mt. Benson. The pilot misidentified Nanaimo as Vancouver, likely due to insufficient pre-flight preparation and inadequate meteorological data.A VFR flight into adverse weather conditions resulted in a crash into Mt. Benson. The pilot misidentified Nanaimo as Vancouver, likely due to insufficient pre-flight preparation and inadequate meteorological data.
Description
While flying VFR in adverse weather conditions, the pilot mistook Nanaimo for Vancouver. The plane crashed into Mt. Benson. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The probable cause of this accident was the continuance of the flight VFR at night under conditions of restricted visibility. Whilst it cannot be determined conclusively, it is probable that through a navigational error the pilot mistook Nanaimo for Vancouver. This may have been precipitated by inadequate pre-flight preparation in that the latest Meteorological Information was not obtained by the pilot before taking off on the south bound flight.”
Primary Cause
Continued flight at night under restricted visibility, potentially exacerbated by navigational error leading to a mistaken identification of Nanaimo as Vancouver.Continued flight at night under restricted visibility, potentially exacerbated by navigational error leading to a mistaken identification of Nanaimo as Vancouver.Share on:
