More details have been released in a report by Transport Canada today (Dec. 13) regarding the Gabriola Island plane crash.
The report says three people died in the tragic incident on Tuesday (Dec. 10), two men and one woman, with a possible cause listed as mechanical/technical malfunction of aircraft.
The plane has been listed as a 1982 Piper Avco Lycoming, which was on approach into Nanaimo on a flight from Bishop, California.
Transport Canada says the plane was privately registered as Piper PA-60-602P and engine model TIO-540-U2A, which reported an equipment issue and deviated from the approach before suddenly disappearing from radar.
The Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre reported the plane had crashed on Gabriola Island.
The pilot has been identified as Alex Bahlsen, according to the Nanaimo Flying Club's Facebook page.
The identities of the other two deceased will be subject to post-mortem testing results and other investigative work, says a release from the BC Coroners Service.
"The Nanaimo Flying Club and all of its members and executives remember Alex Bahlsen for the amazing pilot, mentor and friend that he was to so many people," a post reads.
"His love for flying was marked by his unwavering professionalism while in the air and on the ground. His aircraft, a 1982 Piper Super 700 Aerostar registered C-FQYW was a fixture outside the Nanaimo Flying Club, guarding our apron whenever she was home from her regular long trips. The space where she was parked will forever miss her three wheels."
He was born in Germany and moved to Cayley, Alta. around 30 years ago, family friend Rasmus Rydstrom-Poulsen said.
About a year ago, he moved to Mill Bay, B.C., to live with his wife.
"He was a kind, caring, very intelligent, adventurous and fun guy — very talented," said Rydstrom-Poulsen, who is in contact with Bahlsen's family.
Flying was a passion for Bahlsen, who was a flight instructor, charter pilot and owned an airstrip before leaving Alberta.
The aircraft crashed on the northwest corner of Gabriola Island and was reported at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday with RCMP confirming there were no survivors the following day (Dec. 11).
- with files from The Canadian Press
