Abbotsford

The vintage de Havilland DH-89A MKIV Dragon Rapide biplane (U.S. registration N683DH, serial number 6782) operated by Historic Flight Foundation was part of the static aircraft display at the Abbotsford International Airshow at Abbotsford Airport (CYXX), British Columbia. Following the conclusion of the airshow that day, the aircraft was being used to provide air rides. At approximately 1731 on 11 August 2018, the aircraft began its takeoff from Runway 25 with the pilot and 4 passengers on board for a local flight to the southeast. During the takeoff, the aircraft encountered strong, gusting crosswinds. It climbed to about 30 feet above ground level before descending suddenly and impacting the runway, coming to rest on its nose immediately off the right edge of the runway. Within 2 minutes, 2 aircraft rescue firefighting trucks arrived on the scene along with an operations/command vehicle. About 10 minutes later, 2 St. John Ambulances arrived. A representative of the HFF was escorted to the scene to ensure all electronics on the aircraft were turned off. Shortly thereafter, 2 BC Ambulance Service ground ambulances arrived, followed by 2 City of Abbotsford fire trucks. Two BC Ambulance Service air ambulances arrived after that. The fire trucks stabilized the aircraft, and the first responders who arrived with the fire truck finished evacuating the occupants. The pilot and 1 passenger received serious injuries; the other 3 passengers received minor injuries. All of the aircraft occupants were taken to the hospital. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was a fuel spill, but no fire. The emergency locator transmitter activated.

Weather conditions at Abbotsford at the time of departure consisted of a temperature of -2°C in moderate to heavy snowfall with winds of approximately 10 knots. Prior to the departure, the fuel tanks were filled to capacity and the pilot and passengers boarded the aircraft inside the operator's heated hangar. The aircraft was towed outside of the hangar without being treated with anti-ice fluid, and taxied for the departure on runway 07. Due to an inbound arrival at Abbotsford, C-GIAE was delayed for departure. Once cleared for takeoff, the aircraft had been exposed to snow and freezing conditions for approximately 14 minutes. After becoming airborne, the aircraft experienced power and control issues shortly after the landing gear was retracted. The aircraft collided with terrain within the airport perimeter. Four passengers and the pilot sustained serious injuries as a result of the accident which destroyed the aircraft.

The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Abbotsford to Tofino with two people on board (a father aged 51 and his son aged 25). On approach to Tofino Airport, on Vancouver Island, the aircraft impacted ground and crashed on Vargas Island, off Tofino. The burnt wreckage was found the following day and both occupants were killed.

At 0916 Pacific standard time, the Seair Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious aircraft, serial number 20800310, took off from runway 19 at Abbotsford Airport, British Columbia, on the first leg of a private flight to the Bahamas. One pilot and five passengers were on board. About one minute later, as the aircraft was climbing through an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level and as the pilot retracted flaps from 10 to zero degrees, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The aircraft banked left, descended rapidly, and crashed in a field about one-half mile south of the runway threshold, in a left bank with a near-level pitch attitude. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot received serious injuries. Two passengers were also seriously injured, and three passengers received minor injuries. Daylight visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no fire.

The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew departed Abbotsford Airport at 0906LT on a local training mission. Thirty-four minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 in marginal weather conditions, the crew proceeded to a fix point when the aircraft hit the slope of Welch Peak located east of Chilliwack. The wreckage was spotted on June 16 but first rescuers arrived on the scene four days later, on June 20. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (5th OTU):
Sgt Stanley Aldridge,
Sgt Albert Eric Broadbent,
Sgt John Randall Dale,
Sgt William Peter Watt Drummond,
Sgt Isaac Gibbons,
Sgt James Leonard Gordon Hammond,
F/O Arthur William David Hill,
Sgt David Robertson Langlands,
P/O Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long,
Sgt Graham Murray,
Sgt William Thomas Swatton.
Source:
http://www.bansteadhistory.com/Memorial/2_H_KK241 Liberator Crew.html

The crew left RCAF Abbotsford in the day for a training mission over the Vancouver Island. En route, the aircraft went into a cloudy area and eventually crashed into the sea off Bell Island. Only few debris and personal effects were recovered but not trace of the aircraft nor the 11 crew members was ever found.
Crew (5th OTU):
P/O Thomas Henry Bastable,
P/O Robert Henry Burr,
Sgt Frank Cocksey,
Sgt James Brown Cuthbertson,
F/O Cyril Irwin Mitchell,
Sgt William David Newton Morgans,
Sgt Alan Simpson,
Sgt George Arthur Snelling,
F/Lt Kenneth Edmund Spence,
Sgt Peter Stead,
P/O James Francis Trickey.

The crew was performing a night training mission and departed Abbotsford Airport on the evening of November 9. While low visibility, pilots were unable to locate the mountainous terrain. The four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Flora Lake, Vancouver Island, and was destroyed by impact forces. All 10 crew members were killed. SAR operations were dispatched on a huge area but no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted one year later. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to marginal weather conditions and by night.
Crew (5th OTU):
F/O John Victor Kingdon, 1st pilot,
F/O Morris Morganstein, 2nd pilot,
F/O Frederick Edward Brown,
F/O James Frederick Cooke,
Sgt Frederick Douglas Hafford,
Sgt Sidney Helper,
Sgt Glyn Ivor Jones,
Sgt Thomas MacDonald,
Sgt Ronald May,
Sgt David Peggie Westwater.