2019 Gabriola Island crash
| File:2019 Gabriola Piper PA-60-602P crash scene and wreckage.jpg The 2019 Gabriola Island crash site, as taken by Paolo Gastaldello of The Canadian Press on December 11, 2019. | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 December 2019 |
| Summary | Crashed on approach; under investigation[1] |
| Site | Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA-60-602P[1] |
| Operator | Unknown |
| Flight origin | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico[2][3] |
| Stopover | Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (KBIH), Bishop, California[4] |
| Destination | Nanaimo Airport[5] |
| Occupants | 3 |
| Passengers | 2 |
| Crew | 1[3] |
| Fatalities | 3[1][6] |
| Survivors | 0 |
On the evening of December 10, 2019 a small airplane on instrument approach to Runway 16 of Nanaimo Airport (YCD),[7][8][4] with three people on-board,[2][1] crashed into Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada, in dense fog.[9][10][11][12] After experiencing a "system/component failure or malfunction [non-powerplant],"[1] the plane crashed into the northwest corner of the island between Decourcy Drive and the shoreline.[7][13] According to witnesses, a large explosion accompanied the crash and shook homes in the area.[9][10][14][15] In addition to the island's local fire department and two ambulances being dispatched,[16] an additional 6 ambulances - including advanced life support units[9] - were sent on the next available ferry from Nanaimo, and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria was activated.[14] The Canadian Coast Guard was also dispatched and arrived near the scene in a hovercraft,[13][15] along with two boats from the Nanaimo Port Authority.[13][17]
The Gabriola Royal Canadian Mounted Police assumed control of the scene upon arrival.[10] Shortly after the crash occurred, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a statement that there were no survivors.[15][14][18] The Transportation Safety Board of Canada was notified around 7pm PDT[9][10] and announced that three investigators will be on-scene December 11.[10][18][19] The BC Coroners Service is now in the "preliminary" stages of investigation.[10] In a joint statement by the RCMP and BC Coroners Service it was announced that the RCMP will maintain control of the site until TSB investigators arrive on scene.[20][21] They will not be releasing any more information at this time.[6][22] New information is expected to be released once the TSB has arrived and had time to review the wreckage.[8]
Information discovered by the Vancouver Sun indicated initially that it was potentially a twin-engine Piper Aerostar heading north from the United States.[14][23] The TSB confirmed the following morning that it was a "twin-engine propeller aircraft."[24][25] The following Saturday it was confirmed by TSB that the plane was a Piper PA-60-602P that crashed after experiencing a "system/component failure or malfunction [non-powerplant]."[1] The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has since concluded the "field phase" of the investigation and has removed the wreckage. Further investigation is underway and will conclude with a formal report.[1]
Casualties[edit]
While no official word has yet been released regarding the number of casualties, the Gabriola RCMP and the BC Coroners Service have stated that all aboard the plane were deceased.[18] Friends of the pilot have identified him as 61-year-old Alex Bahlsen, an ex-flight test examiner for Transport Canada, owner of a flight school, and grandson of Hermann Bahlsen.[3] Bahlsen volunteered with the registered charity, Pilots N Paws Canada Animal Rescue, to fly rescue animals across the country.[26]
It was confirmed on the following weekend that three people were on board the plane at the time of the crash: Alex Bahlsen and two unnamed passengers - a man and a woman.[1][27][28]
Aftermath and Investigation[edit]
A trauma support session for the residents affected in the wake of the crash was hosted two days later by the Regional District of Nanaimo.[29] The Transportation Safety Board investigation is ongoing and few details surrounding the crash have been announced.[24] The TSB has since moved to the analysis phase of its investigation, which will conclude in the release of a formal report on the accident.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Holliday, Ian (2019-12-14). "Gabriola crash: TSB concludes work at site where plane went down". British Columbia. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Little, Simon (2019-12-12). "3 people were aboard plane that crashed on Gabriola Island, B.C., leaving no survivors". Global News. Retrieved 2019-12-13. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brend, Yvette (2019-12-11). "'An amazing pilot and flight instructor': Friends remember aviator who died in Gabriola Island crash". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Little, Simon (2019-12-11). "TSB say plane that crashed on Gabriola Island was flying from California to Nanaimo". Global News. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "'A very highly-skilled pilot': Victim identified in Gabriola Island, B.C. plane crash". CHEK News. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Multiple fatalities after plane crashes on Gabriola Island off B.C. coast". National Post. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Watts, Richard (11 December 2019). "Plane crashes at Gabriola Island; multiple fatalities". Times Colonist. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 International, Radio Canada (2019-12-11). "Multiple fatalities confirmed in British Columbia plane crash". RCI | English. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Plane crashes on Gabriola Island, explosions cause houses to shake". CHEK. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "'Almost shaking my house': Plane crashes on northern Gabriola Island, B.C., injuries unclear". Global News. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ Weichel, Andrew (2019-12-10). "Emergency crews responding to plane crash on Gabriola Island". British Columbia. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ Ghoussoub, Michelle (Dec 10, 2019). "'My house shook, and I shook': Multiple fatalities confirmed in plane crash on Gabriola Island". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Kilbourn, Derek (10 December 2019). "Plane crash on Decourcy Drive on Gabriola". Gabriola Sounder. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Carrigg, David (2019-12-11). "Plane crashes on Gabriola Island: report of no survivors". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2019-12-11. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 News (2019-12-10). "UPDATED: No survivors in Gabriola Island plane crash: RCMP". Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ Harnett, Cindy (2019-12-11). "Plane crashes at Gabriola Island". Times Colonist. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ News (2019-12-10). "UPDATED: No survivors in Gabriola Island plane crash: RCMP". Nanaimo News Bulletin. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Coyne, Todd (2019-12-10). "Multiple fatalities confirmed after plane crash on Gabriola Island". CTV News Vancouver Island. Retrieved 2019-12-11. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Reuters (2019-12-11). "Multiple Fatalities After Small Plane Crashes in British Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "Several people dead after plane crashes on Gabriola Island". CHEK. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "Multiple Deaths Confirmed After Small Plane Crashes Near Vancouver Island". HuffPost Canada. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "Multiple fatalities after plane crashes on Gabriola Island off B.C. coast". CP24. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "Paramedics arrive after plane crashes on Gabriola Island off B.C. coast | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Holliday, Kristen (2019-12-11). "Witness says explosion from small plane crash on Gabriola Island was 'immense'". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ Canada, P. M. N. (2019-12-11). "Witness describes explosion from B.C. plane crash, multiple fatalities confirmed | National Post". Retrieved 2019-12-11.
- ↑ "'Worth his weight in gold': Pilot killed in Gabriola crash remembered for animal rescue work". Global News. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ↑ "Cowichan Valley couple identified as final 2 victims of Gabriola crash". Global News. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
- ↑ "'Absolutely devastated': Couple killed in Gabriola Island plane crash identified". CTV News. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-17. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Support session planned for Gabriola Island residents in wake of plane crash". Vancouver Island. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
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