Firefighters attend the scene of a plane crash in Richmond, B.C. on Thursday Oct. 27, 2011.Steve Smith/ The Canadian Press
The lead investigator looking into the deadly plane crash just outside Vancouver's airport last week has heard the final cockpit conversation before the flight went down.
Bill Yearwood, with the Transportation Safety Board, listened to the entire recording stored in the plane's black box that was recovered after last Thursday's crash.
He says the information will be helpful in determining the facts, but under law he isn't able to describe its contents any further.
Mr. Yearwood says his team has so far gathered a good deal of "valuable" information, but it will take time to analyze and he continues to interview passengers and witnesses for more details.
The plane slammed into the ground on approach and burst into flames after turning back from its flight to Kelowna, B.C., because the crew noticed an oil leak.
The pilot, 44-year-old Luc Fortin, died in the crash and five others remain in hospital, one in critical condition.