Country
Canada

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Potter Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Lindberghs Hunt & Fish Air
Registration:
C-FLUB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1324
YOM:
1959
Location:
Potter Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was returning to its base in Cochrane, carrying one pilot and two passengers flying back from a hunting camp. While cruising at low level so that the passengers could take pictures, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near Potter Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that a moose was spotted and a steep turn was initiated. During the turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that went in a steep nose down and inverted attitude. It was reported that the aircraft did not have a ventral fin installed and this was not a legal requirement. The fin makes a float equipped aircraft much more directionally stable.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Whittier: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1978 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Alaska Travel
Registration:
N37741
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Anchorage - Whittier
MSN:
269
YOM:
1952
Location:
Whittier
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
3125
Captain / Total hours on type:
106.00
Circumstances:
En route from Anchorage to Whittier, weather conditions worsened while the pilot was flying into a canyon. The single engine airplane lost height then crashed in a river bed. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Sudden windshift,
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Flew into blind canyon,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Float equipped,
- No antenna for ELT.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Quesnel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Canyon Airways
Registration:
C-GDAV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dragon Lake - Isaac Lake
MSN:
770
YOM:
1955
Location:
Quesnel
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
6905
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Dragon Lake on a charter flight to Isaac Lake located 65 miles to the east, carrying three passengers and a pilot. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions when the seaplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 12 miles northeast of Quesnel. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire and all four occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot lost control of the airplane while flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. Investigations revealed that at takeoff, the aircraft was 359 pounds overweight and the centre of gravity was 1.5 inch aft of the aft limit. After 45 minutes of flight, the aircraft would be 200 pounds overweight with a centre of gravity located 0.5 inch aft of the limit.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
La Sarre Air Services
Registration:
C-FTEB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1959
Location:
Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 300 feet, the engine stopped due to lack of fuel. The pilot changed to the fuel selector to another tank that should contained 16 gallons of fuel and tried to restart the engine. However he had neither sufficient time or altitude to complete the operation. The single engine airplane lost height and crashed onto the slope of a wooded hill. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that although the fuel gauge showed 8 gallons in the tank it was almost empty.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Pelican

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1978 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Southeast Skyways
Registration:
N8690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Elfin Cove - Herbert Graves Island
MSN:
811
YOM:
1955
Location:
Pelican
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5150
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, the pilot entered a narrow channel at an altitude of 100 feet when he lost control of the aircraft that spiraled to the ground. The wreckage was found in the region of Pelican. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stall during normal cruise due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Flew to blind canyon,
- Float equipped,
- Entered narrow channel at 100 feet AGL.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 in Pincher Creek

Date & Time: May 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
XV273
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1654
YOM:
1966
Location:
Pincher Creek
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane failed to climb following a downhill takeoff that was completed with a tailwind. It bounced several times then struck trees, stalled and came to rest in a marsh. Two occupants were injured while three others were unhurt.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Tikokino

Date & Time: May 16, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CFU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1530
YOM:
1963
Location:
Tikokino
Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a crop spraying flight, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The single engine airplane landed hard, went out of control and came to rest. The pilot, sole on board, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Cordova: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1978 at 0752 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Chitna Air Service
Registration:
N4747S
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cordova - Cordova Mile 13
MSN:
1142
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cordova
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cordova Airstrip, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Rio Aguarico

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1977 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-118
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tres Esquinas - Puerto Leguizamo
Location:
Rio Aguarico
Sucumbíos
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Rio Aguarico while completing a flight from Tres Esquinas to Puerto Leguizamo, apparently after being lost. The wreckage was spotted three days later about 20 km from the Colombia - Ecuador border and all four occupants were evacuated.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off False Bay

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-FODF
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
202
YOM:
1952
Location:
False Bay (Lasqueti Island)
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Lost a float and sank off False Bay harbor. There were no casualties.
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