The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identities of three persons who died in the crash of a small airplane near Peachland on May 13, 2012.

The pilot of the Beaver plane that went down just off the Coquihalla Highway was Colin Moyes, aged 52, from West Vancouver.

His two passengers were a couple also from West Vancouver - Peter Brooke Lovelace Keate, aged 81, and Inez Helen Keate, aged 79.

The three were killed when the plane, owned by Mr. Moyes, crashed into a steep, wooded hillside just off Highway 97C near the Brenda Mines Road about 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 13. It had taken off from Okanagan Lake only a few minutes earlier and was bound for the Pitt Meadows Airport where Mr. Moyes kept it.

The three were recovered from the wreckage by the Coroners Service specialized Identification and Disaster Response Unit. The identities of the three persons were confirmed by dental records.

The families of Mr. Moyes and of the Keates have been notified of their deaths. On behalf of the families, the Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy.

The BC Coroners Service expresses our sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Moyes and the Keate family, and also our appreciation to the Transportation Safety Board, West Kelowna RCMP and firefighters from the BC Forest Service who provided key assistance on the rescue and recovery efforts.

Contact:

Mark Coleman
Regional Coroner, Interior Region
BC Coroners Service
250 861-7429