Canada | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft left Port-Menier, Anticosti Island, on a charter flight to Gaspé, carrying two pilots and 27 people, most of them employees of the Consolidated Paper Company. The approach to Gaspé Airport was started from the east in foggy conditions. While flying too low, the aircraft hit some trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near Cap-des-Rosiers, about 20 km east of Gaspé Airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene few hours later and all 29 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Emerson Mills, pilot,
Ross Miles, copilot.
Passengers:
Germain Jean,
Elle Godin,
Camille Furgesson,
Jean Laflamme,
Lawrence Travers,
Mathias Cote,
Henri Tardif,
Rolland Denis,
Alphonse Veer,
René Blais,
Alfred Desjardins,
Rodolphe Gendreau,
Roger Gendreau,
Hughes Prouix,
James Travers,
Gérard Després,
Harris Gleeton,
Eddy Bouchard,
Julien Fynott,
Mr. and Mrs. Berth McCallum and son,
Joseph Gauvin,
Romuald Dufresne,
Clarimond Fournier,
Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Maloney.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew started the approach visually in low visibility and was unable to locate ground obstacles.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Prince George: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1948

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Central BC Airways

Registration:

CF-DIQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Prince George - Prince George

MSN:

FM.17

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Prince George, while completing a local flight, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Junkers W.34fi in British Columbia

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Central BC Airways

Registration:

CF-ASN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

2731

YOM:

Location:

British Columbia

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reason and came to rest on its nose. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The accident occurred somewhere in British Columbia, the exact place remains unknown.

Crash of a Stinson SR-9FM Reliant near Washago

Date & Time: May 27, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SR-9 Reliant

Operator:

Registration:

CF-OAV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

5703

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking off from the Severn River near Washago, a wing dug, causing the aircraft to overturn and to crash. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in McGregor Bay

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1948

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Great Northern Skyways

Registration:

CF-DIS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

FM.19

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after takeoff from McGregor Bay following an engine failure. The aircraft was written off and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranraer off Vancouver Island

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Canadian Vickers Stranraer

Operator:

Registration:

CF-BYI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

CV184

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Caught fire and sank off Vancouver Island enroute to Forward Harbour. After it went to a halt, all four occupants were able to evacuate.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Saskatchewan

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Waite Fisheries

Registration:

CF-FFP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Buffalo Narrows – Big River

MSN:

YOM:

1941

Location:

Saskatchewan

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2400

Circumstances:

Enroute from Buffalo Narrows to Big River, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with a snowstorm. He reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when landing on a road, the aircraft ended up in the bush and was destroyed. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Goose Bay: 23 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1947 at 0020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72572

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Goose Bay – Westover

MSN:

10677

YOM:

1945

Location:

Goose Bay

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

One minute after a night takeoff from Goose Bay, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered serious difficulties to gain height, informed ground and elected to return. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 13,5 km north of the airport. Six occupants were seriously injured while 23 others were killed.

Probable cause:

It was snowing in Goose Bay when the crew made his technical stop. For unknown reason, the crew failed to request for a deice operation prior to departure and the takeoff procedure was started with 12 mm of snow on both wings and stabs. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient height after liftoff due to heavy weight, too much drag and loss of lift.