Weather, illicit drug may have contributed to fatal B.C. chopper crash, TSB says

Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) signage is pictured outside TSB offices in Ottawa on May 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Transportation Safety Board says a number of factors could have led to a fatal helicopter crash in British Columbia last year but it makes no final finding of the cause.

The TSB said in a report on Thursday that the helicopter was on its way to a private residence near Sicamous, B.C., from High River, Alta., on Jan. 5, 2024 when it crashed 18 kilometres east of Revelstoke.

It was located two days later in deep snow with its sole occupant, a student pilot, dead.

The report said it took two days for a Canadian Armed Forces Cormorant helicopter to find the crash site because of bad weather and challenging terrain.

The report said the man, who had passed his flying test, hadn’t applied for his full licence yet. It also found there was an illicit substance in his blood that’s not permitted when flying a helicopter.

“This substance may derive from an illicit drug or from certain medication,” the report said.

“The investigation determined that the substance was present prior to death. However, it could not determine the source of the substance or whether the presence of the substance influenced the pilot’s performance during the occurrence.”

The pilot had texted before the crash that he had encountered poor weather and would take a route along the Trans-Canada Highway through Rogers Pass, B.C.

The report said a warm front in the area at the time was producing strong winds and reduced visibility with low clouds. As the helicopter neared Revelstoke, the visibility would have been further reduced by precipitation.

“In this occurrence, the pilot performed multiple 360 degree left-turn orbits before striking terrain. After each orbit, the pilot rejoined the south side of the highway and continued flying toward Revelstoke at approximately 50 to 100 feet above the trees.”

The TSB said the helicopter was badly damaged in the crash.

“The fuselage deformation and damage were consistent with a high-energy impact in a forward direction. The two main rotor blades were fractured at different lengths and deformed, while the main transmission was ejected,” said the report.

“The accident was not survivable because of the impact forces involved.”

The report did not provide an exact cause for the crash but addressed Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).

It said it often happens in low visibility, at night or in poor weather and reduces a pilot’s awareness of the surrounding area.

The TSB suggests pilots check the weather before a flight.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline and rail transportation occurrences.

It does not assign fault or determine criminal liability.

This report by Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press, was first published July 24, 2025.