Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Cessna 421C, N264DC
Tofino/Long Beach Airport (CYAZ), British Columbia
The occurrence
On 18 July 2024, a privately registered Cessna 421C aircraft departed from Tofino/Long Beach Airport, British Columbia, on a flight to Portland International Airport, Oregon, United States, with 1 pilot and 2 passengers on board.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a right engine fire. On its return to the airport, the aircraft collided with terrain on the airport grounds. An explosion and post-crash fire engulfed the aircraft immediately after the impact. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
One of the passengers was able to evacuate the aircraft through the rear left exit. The pilot and other passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was consumed by fire and destroyed. A team of investigators deployed to the occurrence site. The TSB investigating.
Media materials
Investigation information
A24P0074
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Cessna 421C, N264DC
Tofino/Long Beach Airport (CYAZ), British Columbia
Investigator-in-charge
Brandon Dreyer joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in 2023 as a Senior Regional Investigator of Operations for the Pacific Region, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He began flying in 1995,accumulating 7,800 hours as a flight instructor, airline pilot, airshow pilot, and unlimited-level aerobatic competition pilot during his career. Mr. Dreyer has flown throughout North America with four different airlines on more than 40 different types of aircraft including the Boeing 727, CRJ-900/200, Q400, DHC8-100/300, and SAAB 340. Mr. Dreyer has a degree in psychology from Trinity Western University and is a published aviation writer.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 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.