Transportation Safety Board says PG plane crash investigation may take 450 days to complete

The investigation into a fatal plane crash that claimed the life of well-known hockey mom and volleyball player Alex Garneau will take over a year to complete.

According to the Transportation Safety Board, it is a class 3 investigation with the target timeline of completion set at 450 days.

A Beech King Air 200 plane with eight people on board made an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard contacting four vehicles with the Prince George RCMP responding to the call just after 2:20pm on August 20th.

In its initial investigation in Prince George, the Transportation Safety Board noted the plane lost one of its two engines, prompting the emergency landing.

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According to a report from the Aviation Safety Network, the plane was involved in another emergency landing in January 2024.

The report states the aircraft experienced a loss of pressurization while performing a medical evacuation flight from Phoenix to Kelowna.

Five people were on board the plane, which consisted of both flight crew members along with three passengers.

The flight crew landed the aircraft safely at Kelowna Airport.

At the time of the incident, Upper Valley Aviation Limited was the owner of the plane.

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Sekani Air became the aircraft’s registered owner in October of 2025. The plane was manufactured in 1980.

Towards the end of August, Volleyball BC, the Prince George Youth Volleyball Club and the Vancouver-based Capilano Blues issued statements regarding her passing.

Alex Garneau was identified as the victim of Thursday’s fatal plane crash in PG. Supplied photo via GoFundMe.

Garneau, who played under her maiden name Miller, captured back-to-back B.C. 4A championships with Prince George Secondary School and was also named to Team B.C.

In four seasons with the Blues (2005-2008), she helped them to win a silver medal during the 2007 CCAA National Championships.

Garneau also collected bronze and silver medals at provincials while being named an All-Star in 2006-07.

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Following her competitive playing days, she remained in the game as a coach with the PG Youth Volleyball Club.

Garneau was also well-known in the local hockey circles with affiliations to Cariboo Hockey, PG Whalers and HPL Kings.

A pair of GoFundMe pages were launched, which raised a combined $230,000 to this point.

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Brendan Pawliw
Brendan Pawliw
Since moving to Prince George in 2015, Brendan has covered local sports including the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, Prince George Spruce Kings, UNBC Timberwolves, Cariboo Cougars AAA, and Northern Capitals U18 female hockey teams. Career highlights include play-by-play during the Spruce Kings' BCHL championship runs in 2018 and 2019, including the Doyle Cup win. He also covered the 2019 National Junior A Championship, the 2017 Telus Cup, the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship, and the 2022 BC Summer Games. Brendan is the news voice on 94.3 The Goat and Country 97 FM, reporting on crime, real estate, labour, and environmental issues. Outside of work, he officiates box lacrosse and fastball, sits on the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame board, and co-hosts the Hockey North podcast.

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