TSB Reports Victoria-bound Flight Briefly Lost Altitude After YVR Takeoff

A scheduled flight from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Victoria International Airport (YYJ) experienced a brief, unexpected loss of altitude shortly after takeoff on January 2.

The aircraft was climbing away from Vancouver. Air traffic control (ATC) cleared the flight crew to turn and climb to a higher altitude. Moments later, the plane began to descend.

Incident Details and Crew Response

The unexpected descent occurred while the aircraft was just two nautical miles southeast of the airport. Both the flight crew and air traffic control detected the drop immediately.

The cockpit received a clear "don't sink" aural warning alert. Simultaneously, controllers received a low altitude alert on their screens. The controller quickly instructed the crew to expedite their climb to 4,000 feet above sea level.

The flight crew responded immediately. They manipulated the flight guidance control panel to stop the descent. Following this, the crew disengaged the autopilot system. They then manually climbed the aircraft to the assigned altitude.

After regaining the correct flight path, the plane leveled off. It continued its short journey to Victoria without further incident. The aircraft landed safely at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) at 6:49 p.m. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported.

Regulatory Classification and Safety Context

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) reviewed the event. The agency classified the incident as a TSB Class 5 occurrence. This is the lowest level in its reporting system.

Class 5 occurrences are considered unlikely to reveal new commercial aviation safety issues. They typically involve minimal damage and limited public impact. A TSB spokesperson confirmed that these events are not subject to a comprehensive investigation report.

• Data Collection: The TSB gathers and records information for statistical reporting. This data is kept for possible future safety analysis or archival purposes.
• Annual Reports: The TSB receives between 3,000 and 4,000 transportation occurrences annually.

This classification indicates the board's confidence. The actions taken by the flight crew disengaged autopilot and the prompt response from air traffic control successfully mitigated the risk. The incident highlights the importance of multiple safety layers. These layers include cockpit warnings and ground-based alerts. The system worked as designed to prevent a more serious loss of altitude situation during the critical takeoff phase.

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