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Pilot in fatal plane crash was impaired

The pilot of a cargo plane destined for Prince George that crashed in the North Shore mountains was flying with a blood-alcohol level well over the legal limit. Post-mortem testing revealed Robert Brandt, 34, had a blood-alcohol limit of .
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The pilot of a cargo plane destined for Prince George that crashed in the North Shore mountains was flying with a blood-alcohol level well over the legal limit.

Post-mortem testing revealed Robert Brandt, 34, had a blood-alcohol limit of .24 per cent, the B.C. Coroners Service said Wednesday. The legal limit under the Criminal Code is .08.

Both Brandt, the captain, and Kevin Wang, 32, the first officer, died in the April 13 crash, which occurred at about 7:10 a.m., shortly after takeoff from Vancouver International Airport.

They were flying a Metro II cargo plane operated by Kelowna-based Carson Air. The plane left YVR at 6:43 a.m. and was due to arrive at Prince George Airport at 8 a.m. The wreckage was found on Coliseum Mountain.

No drugs or alcohol of relevance were found in Wang's system.

The incident remains under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board and the B.C. Coroners Service.