Missing Aircraft in BC

[Big Pistons Forever]

I have heard that there are about 40 aircraft that have gone missing in BC since 1960. That is airplanes that departed, went overdue and were never found.

Does anyone have a link to any statistics that support this ?

[Squaretail]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missing_aircraft

Lists 3 during that time period, though it is definitely not comprehensive.

Aviation Safety Network claims that 100 aircraft have went missing and never found globally since 1948, so the 40 alone in BC is probably an over-estimation.

[goldeneagle]

I was looking at the list on wiki yesterday. A few more in BC that I know of which are not on that list

- A trainer from ZBB (172 I believe) disappeared into the Fraser a few years back, never found (unless found recently and I didn't hear about it)

- In the late 70's there was a super cub headed to Fraser Lake from Ft St James, never heard from again. There were rumors of pieces washing up on shore in Fraser Lake near Nautley.

- Another in the 70's was an American plane going to Terrace from the BC interior. During the search 442 squadron lost a Buffalo in the Telkwa pass. If memory serves, the target of that search was never found.

Then in the category of 'eventually found'

- In the 60's was a 185 went missing on a flight to Pt Alberni. By chance I was on the ground in Parksville one day in about '82 when a TC amphib stopped in for gas, they were headed to Cameron Lake, apparently some divers had found it on the bottom of the lake. That one had been on the bottom of the lake for 20 odd years.

- A few years ago, read about some hunters out of 100 mile that stumbled on wreck of a Super Cub. Apparently it had been sitting there for many years, never found until they stumbled on it.

Combined with the ones on the wiki list, that's 6 still lost, and 2 more that were lost for decades before being found by accident, and that's just from the late 70's on. I'm sure there are plenty more from the 60's and early 70's (before I was paying attention to such things).

[FL030]

- Another in the 70's was an American plane going to Terrace from the BC interior. During the search 442 squadron lost a Buffalo in the Telkwa pass. If memory serves, the target of that search was never found.

It was quite common to lose one, two, or three military aircraft during search and rescue missions in the 80's and before.

[TeePeeCreeper]

- Another in the 70's was an American plane going to Terrace from the BC interior. During the search 442 squadron lost a Buffalo in the Telkwa pass. If memory serves, the target of that search was never found.

It was quite common to lose one, two, or three military aircraft during search and rescue missions in the 80's and before.

What changed in SAR ops that reduced those type of sad events?

[oldncold]

There is still the cherokee warrior with 2on board still missing from cranbrook to kamloops from 2017. Last heard of of over the st mays pass but some un confirmed reports of hearing a plane near the north end of kootenay lake

[goldeneagle]

There is still the cherokee warrior with 2on board still missing from cranbrook to kamloops from 2017. Last heard of of over the st mays pass but some un confirmed reports of hearing a plane near the north end of kootenay lake

That one was listed in the 3 on the wiki page, along with the 2 islanders (IPF and OMC).

[ruffdeezy]

I was looking at the list on wiki yesterday. A few more in BC that I know of which are not on that list

- A trainer from ZBB (172 I believe) disappeared into the Fraser a few years back, never found (unless found recently and I didn't hear about it)

this is the tsb report - https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports- ... P0060.html
but nothing in the news for more than 2 years and not found

[duke1000]

Not sure if this is on the list. Kenn Borek Air Aerostar - charter flight Dawson Creek to Dease Lake. July 1982. SAR Heemskerk. I was on this search for 2 months as a pilot with Borek. I don't think wreckage was ever found.

[mmm...bacon]

There was also the light Cessna that went missing CYKA-CYCD about 10 years ago. Owned by the father of a guy who ran an aviation company in CYTH at the time. Haven’t heard if they’ve found that yet…

[beaverbob]

I was looking at the list on wiki yesterday. A few more in BC that I know of which are not on that list


- Another in the 70's was an American plane going to Terrace from the BC interior. During the search 442 squadron lost a Buffalo in the Telkwa pass. If memory serves, the target of that search was never found.

Then in the category of 'eventually found

The aircraft in question that disappeared in the above quote was a piper comanchie. Many months later hunters found a wing. Not sure if they were connected as the same plane.

The search plane was a Tracker that was being repositioned from Halifax to Comox and was diverted to fly through the area. Not knowing the coast mountains and never the Telkwa pass they did not know that there was a dead end in the pass if you missed the narrower turn, which is exactly what happened. I was only 23 years old then but knew the area and the pass well. I went into search headquarters at the YXS airport and showed them on the map where to find their Tracker. That is exactly where it was found a few days later.

[‘Bob’]

I was looking at the list on wiki yesterday. A few more in BC that I know of which are not on that list


- Another in the 70's was an American plane going to Terrace from the BC interior. During the search 442 squadron lost a Buffalo in the Telkwa pass. If memory serves, the target of that search was never found.

Then in the category of 'eventually found

The aircraft in question that disappeared in the above quote was a piper comanchie. Many months later hunters found a wing. Not sure if they were connected as the same plane.

The search plane was a Tracker that was being repositioned from Halifax to Comox and was diverted to fly through the area. Not knowing the coast mountains and never the Telkwa pass they did not know that there was a dead end in the pass if you missed the narrower turn, which is exactly what happened. I was only 23 years old then but knew the area and the pass well. I went into search headquarters at the YXS airport and showed them on the map where to find their Tracker. That is exactly where it was found a few days later.