Seaplane and boat collision, video

Oh Sheet!
The only two vessels moving (in view) and they still found each other.

Further proves the blind mouse experiment, they still can find each other from afar.

Career changer for the pilot,, Aeh ??

Here we go again; It is both operators fault.
IMO; Both operators had serious brain pharts.

While a seaplane is at the bottom of the stack of give way vessels, there is a designated Seaplane Takeoff and Landing area in Cole Harbor. I can't seem to recall any specific part of the COLREGs , but was always taught to give way to seaplanes in one of these areas. I'm not certain if that's somewhere buried in the rules, of if it's just good judgement because those sea planes lift their noses and can't see the water while planing.

Unlike in tail dragging mode on a runway, that plane rides more level on its floats.
The pilot may have tried to rotate (early) just before the collision (floats still on the water at the crunch) but if watching for other boat traffic, he saw that boat long before the video started.

Or, another thought; the pilot deliberately operated an unsafe plane (poor visibility forward) with paying passengers on board.

Now, I'm not jumping just on the pilot, that boat did nothing smart and looked to turn more across the front of the plane rite before the crunch.
Serious Stuff For Brains there also.

I think the forward visibility on a dehaviland beaver would be somewhat limited coming up on the step and accelerating….(it is powered by a radial engine)…..also the boat was operating in a aircraft operations zone, with instructions to keep clear, for obvious reasons. And at any rate, the boat operator should have kept a lookout when operating in a busy harbour…he doesn’t appear to alter course.

https://www.portvancouver.com/wp-co...6-Brochure-Safe-boating-Burrard-Inlet-web.pdf

However, one would expect the pilot to give a scan of the area before commencing his takeoff run…..

Rule 5; Proper look out. Seems to be the #1 issue on the water these days.
Rule 7; When in doubt, react as a risk is in process.
Rule 2; Deviate from the rules to avoid risk.

They both messed up

Traffic separation schemes are discussed in the rules. This MAY apply to sea-planes??

From the "Burrard Inlet safe boating guide" above;

Float plane landing area
Keep clear of aircraft operations zone.
Watch the horizon for landing aircraft and
keep clear of anticipated landing area.

Is this a marked off "Do Not Enter" area?
Or a boat operator keeps a watch (proper look out)??

Copy that.
Is it a marked area with signs, floats or just the locals know about this place?
If it is marked, then why does the boat operator have to keep watch for planes?

Both operators share the burden and responsibility.

the rules about these marked seaplane areas aren’t very clear and i d like to see the actual regs. That flyer is a flyer, nothing else. Yes it recommends staying clear which is common sense. The colregs are crystal clear, seaplane shall keep clear. I have searched for rules about seaplane areas but haven’t found any official text.

that said, what evasive action could the boat operator have taken? Turning either way or stopping would not have changed anything. Making a U turn at a slow speed neither. Speeding up was the only option assuming that boat could have. It’s not easy to take evasive action at slow speed when something is barreling on you at 60, 70 kts.

At the beginning of this video (post #1), Almost head on lines were happening. If the boat would have just leaned to port a lil more.
It seemed he turned rite in front of the plane to ensure a T Bone crunch..
Even if the plane leaned a lil to his port, the boat may of still got clobbered.

Distant video, depth perception may not be that great.



Coal Harbour
5 knot speed limit
Transit slowly and predictably. Make no
wake when passing moored seaplanes.

Funny thought; So the plane was speeding also.

Is there any new news or updates regarding this crunch?
Maybe were missing some other info somewhere.

There are other videos on line showing different angles, it was a clear cut crossing situation.

it would have been very easy for the seaplane to alter course just a few degrees to starboard and pass safely behind the little boat.

With current technology, limited visibility forward isn’t an excuse. A small camera on top of the windshield with a small screen would solve the problem.

So there was two power boats crossing the float plane path and a snailbote off to the side.
Enough traffic down range to have long aborted a take off attempt,, IMO..

Again glad all are safe.
Pilot may consider a house painting job.

I’ve ridden shotgun seat in Beavers many times. Although visibility isn’t fabulous, it’s not that bad either. Even when heavily loaded and before they get up on step you can still see. From the videos it sure looks like both Captain and Pilot had ample time to react and avoid this collision.
In Ketchikan the float planes are like gnats in a swarm there are so many. And our waterway, Tongass Narrows is way more restricted than this bay. In my 25 years of boating there I don’t recall ever hearing of a plane and a boat colliding. We had two planes collide in air with tragic results though. We’ve also had several occurrences of planes running into mountains in bad weather. We have less float planes now because the cruise ships won’t sell the excursions anymore due to liability or so I’ve been told.