Air transportation safety investigation A21P0111
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 30 March 2023.
Table of contents
Collision between an aircraft and a water taxi
Tofino Air
de Havilland DHC-2 MK. I (Beaver), C-FMXR
and
Eagle Adventures Water Taxi
Water taxi C12997BC (Rocky Pass)
Tofino, British Columbia
The occurrence
On 18 October 2021 at 1637 Pacific Daylight Time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 MK. I (Beaver) aircraft operated by Tofino Air and a water taxi known as the Rocky Pass collided in the vicinity of the First Street dock in the Tofino harbour, British Columbia. The aircraft was substantially damaged and, within 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the collision, was inverted with just the floats above the surface of the water. The 5 passengers and pilot on board the aircraft were able to safely egress. Three of the aircraft passengers received minor injuries. The vessel sustained minor damage and 1 passenger on it received minor injuries. The emergency locator transmitter on the aircraft did not transmit a signal. There was no pollution. Footnote 1
Safety communications
Media materials
News release
Factors affecting visual perception resulted in aircraft and water taxi collision in Tofino harbour, BC
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys team of investigators following October 18 collision between a floatplane and a water taxi in Tofino, BC
Richmond, British Columbia, 27 October 2021 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Tofino, BC, following the October 18, 2021 collision between a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane and the water taxi Rocky Pass. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Jessica Hamstra joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in 2019. Over the course of her aviation career, Ms. Hamstra has gained experience in numerous areas including flight training, medevac, charters, and scheduled airline operations. She has accumulated over 6000 hours of flight time on a variety of aircraft types, such as PA-28-140, C-180, King Air 100/200, Shorts 360, Dash 8, and Airbus A320.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.