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A 2009 report by the Federal Transportation Safety Board confirmed that a “risk of collision did exist” in January 2009 between 2 commuter aircrafts.

The 2 aircraft, a Pacific Coastal Airlines Saab 340A and an Orca Airways Piper PA-31-350 Navajo, passed within a nautical mile of each other at the same altitude near Vancouver International Airport.

The report shows that the Pacific Coastal Airlines Saab 340A aircraft arriving from Powell River on Jan. 8 at 5:55 p.m. was flying westward and cleared to land on the south runway, whilst the Orca Airways Piper PA-31-350 Navajo arriving from Nanaimo was flying northward and in the process of making a left turn to land on the same runway.

Air-traffic control instructed the Piper to fall in behind the Saab, but it failed to do so. The report states that when the 2 aircraft were within a one-quarter nautical mile the Piper took evasive action by turning right and the 2 aircrafts passed at the same altitude.

Bill Yearwood, the safety board’s regional manager, “It certainly is closer than one would want or expect. Any time an aircraft has to take evasive action we consider it a risk of collision.”