DHC-2 Beaver Went Down Off Coast Of British Columbia

A former Canadian Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) has been fatally injured in a floatplane accident off the coast of British Columbia. Liberal Harold Long was reportedly the only person on board the DHC-2 Beaver that was discovered inverted in the water in Blue Inlet on the west side of Stuart Island on Tuesday.

Long had been an MLA in Canada's Liberal party from 1986 to 1991, and again 2001 to 2005.

The CBC reports that, according to search and rescue first responders, there were no witnesses to the accident. Lt.-Cmdr. Desmond James of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria said that the only reason that they became aware of the accident is that a "concerned citizen called 911."  He said a person operating a boat in Blue Inlet spotted the aircraft upside down in the water. The accident scene is northwest of Vancouver, B.C.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident, but authorities said that with no witnesses to interview, it will be very difficult to determine its probable cause.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng