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Wreckage of Missing Plane Found on B.C. Mountainside; 2 Pilots Dead

Posted on: Sunday, 31 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

VANCOUVER (CP) - Two pilots were confirmed dead after a light aircraft missing since Thursday was spotted Saturday on steep hill near Squamish.

A Canadian Force Cormorant helicopter found the wreckage of the King Air 200 turbo prop early in Saturday afternoon.

A statement issued by CFB Comox said both occupants had died.

Killed in the crash were Michael Black, 29, of Kelowna, and Michael Bracht, 34, of Toronto.

"This is never the way to end (a search)," said 442 Squadron Capt. Scott Murphy in release. "There were so many people working very hard and hoping to bring back good news for the families.

"Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers go out to their families in their time of grief."

More than 20 aircraft had joined the search when it resumed for its third day on Saturday morning.

That number included Canadian Forces planes and helicopters, aircraft from Northern Thunderbird Air, which operated the plane, and planes from the Civilian Aviation Search and Rescue Association.

Thunderbird general manager Bill Hesse offered his "deepest condolences" to the men's families.

"Our hearts and our thoughts go out to the family members that are affected by this," he said. "It's tough to imagine what they're going through right now."

Hesse said Bracht and Black were single although the latter had a son.

"They were great guys and they loved to fly," Hesse said. "At each of our bases we're gathering around and leaning on each other for support.

"It's a tough day for us here."

The plane was carrying no passengers or freight when it left Vancouver on Thursday morning. It was due to arrive in Smithers at 10 o'clock and was reported missing when it did not arrive by 11:30 a.m.

The terrain below the flightpath was described as rugged and sparsely populated.

The search was hampered from the start as neither the search aircraft nor the search and rescue satellite detected a signal from the plane's emergency locator transmitter, a Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman said earlier.

The King Air 200 is used as a short-haul passenger aircraft throughout the province. The plane, which the company said was about 30 years old, normally seats six to eight people.

The investigation has been handed over to the National Transport Safety Board.

Hesse said there had been no indication from the plane of any problems after takeoff.

"It had just come out of a refurbishment here over the winter," he said. "It was in very good shape.

"Anything we might say at this point is just pure speculation," Hesse said. "That's not something we want to do."

Source: Canadian Press

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