Pilot dead after mid-air collision in Chilliwack; other plane lands safely
Posted August 3, 2026 9:59 pm.
Last Updated August 5, 2026 7:55 am.
A pilot has been found dead after a mid-air collision between two planes from two separate flight schools in the skies of Chilliwack Monday evening.
It happened around 5 p.m., with one of the planes carrying two passengers able to land safely at Chilliwack Airport. The other aircraft, which contained a single occupant, crashed into a body of water at a local quarry.
The Chilliwack RCMP has confirmed that an underwater team has located the plane and its pilot, deceased.
CityNews has been able to identify the two flight schools whose aircraft were involved in this incident.
The plane that went down was with Pacific Rim Aviation Academy. In a statement, that school said they can’t comment due to an ongoing investigation by the Transportation Safety Board, which they say they are fully cooperating with. They add their thoughts are with everyone affected.
We’re a long way from understanding exactly what happened, but the other flight school involved in the incident — Aquila Aviation — shared more details with CityNews.
A spokesperson said their Cessna had an instructor and a student in it. The instructor noticed another plane coming at them from behind. He grabbed the controls and made a last second maneuver, pulling up and avoiding a more significant collision. There was damage to the front wheel of the plane, but he was able to bring it down safely, potentially preventing a more serious outcome.
But some beginner fliers in the area say they’ve heard of other pilots experiencing close calls in this airspace –
“Someone came five feet in front of them, and they could see everything written on the dash of their airplane,” said student pilot Nathan Gooding.
“They could see what the pilot looked like; they could see their hair colour.”
There’s no tower command in the area, so it’s up to the many student pilots training to communicate their locations with one another.
“For the most part, you have just got to use your eyes. You’ve got to keep your head on a swivel, constantly looking out the windows,” Gooding said.
“Especially right now, with all the smoke, it can be really hard to spot a plane, because there’s a backdrop, there’s limited visibility.”
Police are currently working to recover the submerged plane and the deceased pilot.
