Harbour Air Crash

[DanWEC]

Someone commented on a post that the boater was detained, breathalyzed and drunk. I haven't heard this anywhere else and could be somone just spreading rumours. Any truth to it?

[bald seagull]

Where I grew up - with Lakeland Airways, we always respected the floats. Super huge hunting and fishing town in remote Northern Ontario and being on the lake (because my family were avid hunters, fishers, and boat ppl (like living in that environment is not enough - lets camp all summer too in even more remote areas - I did actually love it) but on the water even in power boats - you ALWAYS heard the engines of the floats. ALWAYS! And you knew to get the F$%# out of the way! And also everyone knew to hug the edges. Like there was a designated (albeit probs not on charts) float lane. When ppl came and rented boats even the houseboats, they were told and respected it.

I can't think of one time an accident happened. But Vancouver (having lived there and been on the wharf and having a fellow pilot who also sails - told me once that in that world, MAYDAY is called almost every day (a little exaggerated but you get the point). Like no respect for the seriousness of it.

Too bad this happened and 100% worse it was blamed on the pilot. Luckily no one died. But def more stringent rules for boaters needed.

I wonder if the people in the boat had loud music playing?

[newlygrounded]

Someone commented on a post that the boater was detained, breathalyzed and drunk. I haven't heard this anywhere else and could be somone just spreading rumours. Any truth to it?

How do you do that to someone who is seriously injured?

[jpilot77]

Someone commented on a post that the boater was detained, breathalyzed and drunk. I haven't heard this anywhere else and could be somone just spreading rumours. Any truth to it?

I saw a video from I believe a Global News saying the boater was charged with DUI.

[Capt. Underpants]

How do you do that to someone who is seriously injured?

There were four people in the boat - two had serious injuries. They did not say that the driver was injured.

[CpnCrunch]

Someone commented on a post that the boater was detained, breathalyzed and drunk. I haven't heard this anywhere else and could be somone just spreading rumours. Any truth to it?

I saw a video from I believe a Global News saying the boater was charged with DUI.

I can't find that video. Do you have a link?

[itsgrosswhatinet]

Considering the attitude some people take when driving their car in Vancouver are we sure it wasn't a case of the boater saying f you avoid me.

[DanWEC]

I saw a video from I believe a Global News saying the boater was charged with DUI.

Ah, so there could be some credit to it. Thanks.

[Andy812]

I saw a video from I believe a Global News saying the boater was charged with DUI.

Ah, so there could be some credit to it. Thanks.

I haven’t seen any reports of such charges on the local News Stations. Posting such statements without providing verifications or links is counter productive.

[180]

Drunk boat captain or not, the boat was going in a straight line at a steady speed and it should have been a non-issue for the Beaver to avoid the collision.

[PilotDAR]

Drunk boat captain or not

The boat captain continues to have a responsibility to maintain watch, and avoid a possible collision, whether he is the stand on vessel or not....

[enbt]

Drunk boat captain or not

The boat captain continues to have a responsibility to maintain watch, and avoid a possible collision, whether he is the stand on vessel or not....

All that is true of the Beaver pilot as well.

[rookiepilot]

Drunk boat captain or not, the boat was going in a straight line at a steady speed and it should have been a non-issue for the Beaver to avoid the collision.

Yup. Completely irrelevant to this accident.

This thread is a waste of time for aviation safety when it denigrates into home gaming, ie lets dig find some reason the actions of the aircraft here had nothing to do with what happened, and a rental boat owner, drunk or not, has a higher duty of care and responsibility than a professional pilot.

Its a pilot’s responsibility not to attempt a takeoff when there is risk of collision with something else. Pilot was specifically warned by ATC, too.

Pretty straightforward. It doesn’t read, that responsibility doesn’t apply when its a stupid boater in the way.

As pilots we are better than that. Buck stops with us. Or so I was taught.

Want to home game, cheer for the Jays, they need it. Not here.

Carry on now.

[7ECA]

Drunk boat captain or not

The boat captain continues to have a responsibility to maintain watch, and avoid a possible collision, whether he is the stand on vessel or not....

All that is true of the Beaver pilot as well.

Boats are prohibited from operating within the takeoff/landing area in Vancouver Harbour. The boat captain was also charged with DUI... While the boat was on the right of the Beaver initially (as was a second, also in the prohibited area), which means the Beaver should have given way - and did to one of the boats.

As was mentioned, the Beaver having a radial engine has SFA in the way of forward visibility during the majority of the takeoff phase. Most float planes, tend to have very limited forward visibility during takeoff. Does that absolve pilots? Not at all... but certainly makes it prudent (as was also mentioned) for boat operators to be highly cognizant of where they are in relation to a seaplane.

Remember, the videos circulating only show a very brief portion of the days events. A few seconds before impact and a few second after - hardly enough time to give a full accounting of the lead up to the crash.

[7ECA]

Drunk boat captain or not, the boat was going in a straight line at a steady speed and it should have been a non-issue for the Beaver to avoid the collision.

Yup. Completely irrelevant to this accident.

Negligent operation of a watercraft, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is now irrelevant? Really??

[airway]

The boat captain continues to have a responsibility to maintain watch, and avoid a possible collision, whether he is the stand on vessel or not....

All that is true of the Beaver pilot as well.

Boats are prohibited from operating within the takeoff/landing area in Vancouver Harbour. The boat captain was also charged with DUI... While the boat was on the right of the Beaver initially (as was a second, also in the prohibited area), which means the Beaver should have given way - and did to one of the boats.

As was mentioned, the Beaver having a radial engine has SFA in the way of forward visibility during the majority of the takeoff phase. Most float planes, tend to have very limited forward visibility during takeoff. Does that absolve pilots? Not at all... but certainly makes it prudent (as was also mentioned) for boat operators to be highly cognizant of where they are in relation to a seaplane.

Remember, the videos circulating only show a very brief portion of the days events. A few seconds before impact and a few second after - hardly enough time to give a full accounting of the lead up to the crash.

The Harbor map uses the term "stay clear" rather than "prohibited". These 2 terms probably have a different legal meaning.



.

[CpnCrunch]

Drunk boat captain or not, the boat was going in a straight line at a steady speed and it should have been a non-issue for the Beaver to avoid the collision.

Yup. Completely irrelevant to this accident.

Negligent operation of a watercraft, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is now irrelevant? Really??

Spreading a rumour?

[7ECA]

Spreading a rumour?

Call it a rumour if you'd like, but it was on the news. Being charged with DUI doesn't specify drugs or alcohol...

[altiplano]

The boat captain continues to have a responsibility to maintain watch, and avoid a possible collision, whether he is the stand on vessel or not....

All that is true of the Beaver pilot as well.

Boats are prohibited from operating within the takeoff/landing area in Vancouver Harbour. The boat captain was also charged with DUI... While the boat was on the right of the Beaver initially (as was a second, also in the prohibited area), which means the Beaver should have given way - and did to one of the boats.

As was mentioned, the Beaver having a radial engine has SFA in the way of forward visibility during the majority of the takeoff phase. Most float planes, tend to have very limited forward visibility during takeoff. Does that absolve pilots? Not at all... but certainly makes it prudent (as was also mentioned) for boat operators to be highly cognizant of where they are in relation to a seaplane.

Remember, the videos circulating only show a very brief portion of the days events. A few seconds before impact and a few second after - hardly enough time to give a full accounting of the lead up to the crash.

Port of Vancouver spokesman was on the news, said it is not a prohibited area and boats are permitted. Advisory area only.

Also the DUI thing is circulating, but I have read and watched a lot of various reports from several news outlets and there has been no mention of this anywhere other than social media. Do you have a source?

Screw ups all around here, but boat was the stand on vessel by marine law and CARs and I don't buy that he was playing chicken with the float plane. That plane came on him faster than what he may have been accustomed to... he's putting along at 5 knots, there was nothing there, look away, and then suddenly there was a beaver straight at him at 75 knots. Not to mention the fact that the pilot was explicitly warned only moments earlier of the boats presence, location, and track before he started his slide and he powered up anyway.

We'll see the report, but it's lucky someone wasn't killed.

[CpnCrunch]

Spreading a rumour?

Call it a rumour if you'd like, but it was on the news. Being charged with DUI doesn't specify drugs or alcohol...

Nobody seems to be able to post a link, and it doesn't show up anywhere, including the global news clip videos.

[itsgrosswhatinet]

If true, there would be a lot more charges than a DUI.

[DanWEC]

I asked about the DUI because I was surprised that if media knew about it, they would typically run with it as the indisputable cause above all else.

Sometimes, it's not a factor in the slightest, but it ends up being a focus regardless.