Investigators of a northern B.C. helicopter crash that killed three people are hoping for better weather Tuesday as they head towards the remote crash site.
Vancouver Island Helicopters said conditions are hampering efforts in the area of Meziadin Lake on Nelson Glacier, a nearly 400 kilometre drive north of Prince Rupert.
RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk said the victims are a 35-year-old pilot from Abbotsford and two passengers — one of Powell River, the other from Quebec.
The names of the victims have not been released and the company is asking for the families' privacy.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesperson Bill Yearwood said the chopper was either just arriving or just leaving a landing site at about 1700 metres above sea level.
"We're not sure at this point whether the pilot was attempting to drop off or pick up the two passenger,s but we know something terrible went wrong and the aircraft crashed and broke apart."
Yearwood said investigators are still working to determine how to examine the helicopter.
"If the site is accessible by trained mountaineers that can hook up the wreckage and lift it out by helicopter, we would consider that if it was too dangerous for us to be on site, and then look at the wreckage in a more controlled environment."
The helicopter was carrying a pilot and two passengers when it went down near Stewart, about 160 kilometres north of Prince Rupert on B.C.'s northern coast.
Police say the helicopter was under contract to a mining company, and the two passengers on board were conducting a geological survey in the area.
The investigation is being led by Transport Canada, along with the B.C. Coroners Service and the RCMP.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca
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