Region
North America

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Carcross: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9205
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2677
YOM:
1941
Location:
Carcross
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Bennett near Carcross, while completing a training flight. Six crew members survived while eleven others sank with the aircraft in deep water. A day later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso A near Shearwater: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1943 at 0557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Registration:
9789
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
22018
YOM:
1943
Location:
Shearwater
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1065
Captain / Total hours on type:
84.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
536
Copilot / Total hours on type:
241
Circumstances:
The crew was briefing at 0500 hrs, started engines at 0540 and started the takeoff run at 0552. The aircraft take off weight was 33,426 lbs which was near the maximum allowable takeoff weight of 34,500. The aircraft became airborne after an abnormally long run and circled the area while climbing to 700’. As the direct route to the patrol area, Seaforth Channel, was closed by weather PO Joseph headed south via the west side of Lama Passage. The ceiling lowered so he descended to stay under the cloud. Suddenly the fog closed in and Joseph turned the aircraft to the left attempting to return to Base on a reciprocal course. His airspeed was 120 knots but altitude could not be maintained in the 35 degree turn like he used to do in a Stranraer. The aircraft was leveled off after turning through 120 degrees as they were getting close to the water. The aircraft was put into a steep climbing position at full power. They had started climbing in the patchy fog when the pilot saw a wooded ridge. They increased the rate of climb and the speed dropped to 70 knots and was down to 50 knots by the time they mushed into the 700’ mark on an 800’ ridge. On impact the a/c caught fire. They had been airborne a total of five minutes.
Crew:
P/O J. A. Joseph, pilot,
F/Sgt K. L. Brown, copilot,
P/O J. L. Jones, navigator,
F/O R. B. Shirra, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt H. A. S. Rawlinson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt E. A. Kershsaw,
Sgt J. A. Cowman, flight engineer, †
LAC W. J. Johnston, flight engineer.
Source: http://www.101nisquadron.org/?page_id=1539
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was assessed as pilot error because of an inability through the lack of experience on the type of aircraft, the pilot was unable to control the aircraft during the turn and was obliged to straighten out. He then realized the presence of hills ahead and attempted to clear them by climbing but was unable to. It would have been advisable to have landed straight ahead when he encountered the fog or to have climbed to 2,000’ and then proceeded to sea rather than attempting a turn at low altitude in a narrow channel with a heavily laden aircraft.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Cooking Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5115
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
106
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cooking Lake
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crash landed for unknown reason. Pilot killed.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Moose Jaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
AS229
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moose Jaw - Moose Jaw
Location:
Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight jointly with another AS.10 Oxford registered AS625 and carrying a crew of two as well. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four pilots were killed.
Crew (32nd SFTS):
LAC Svatopluk Malý, pilot,
LAC Alfred Charles Channon, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Moose Jaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
AS625
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moose Jaw - Moose Jaw
Location:
Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight jointly with another AS.10 Oxford registered AS229 and carrying a crew of two as well. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four pilots were killed.
Crew (32nd SFTS):
F/O Benedikt Blatný, pilot,
P/O George Moffat Urwin, pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Summerville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AE186
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pennfield Ridge - Pennfield Ridge
MSN:
4324
Location:
Summerville
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Pennfield Ridge AFB, New Brunswick, at 1237LT for a training mission. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Summerville, Nova Scotia. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O G. W. Cowie, pilot,
P/O C. A. Griffiths, navigator 2.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Saint John's

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
42-5045
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York – Saint John’s
MSN:
77
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saint John's
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the single engine aircraft went out of control and came to rest on the runway edge. The pilot was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. He was completing a mail flight from New York.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Qualicum Beach: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
6974
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Qualicum Beach - Qualicum Beach
Location:
Qualicum Beach
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission at Qualicum Beach when on final approach, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames onto a house. All three crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso in Gander: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
9807
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gander - Gander
MSN:
CV-241
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the seaplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the bush near the runway end. Six crew members were killed while the second engineer was seriously injured. The crew was engaged in an urgent operational duties, mainly convoy coverage.
Crew:
F/Lt Brian Anthony Casey, pilot,
F/Lt Joseph John Barsalou, pilot,
F/O James Rayson Wallace Cleeland, navigator,
P/O James Herbert Millar, wireless operator,
Wo2 Alexander Frederick Morrice, wireless operator,
Sgt John Benjamin Stallwood, 1st engineer,
Cpl Urbain Edmond Antoine Dube, 2nd engineer.
Source & photos:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/07/13/rcaf-canso-9807/
Probable cause:
The report concludes that Canso 9807 crashed because it “stalled due to climbing at a critical angle in rough air”. The weight of the aircraft may have been a factor, as it was the second incident with a Canso under similar conditions. Therefore, it was recommended that the maximum weight of the aircraft be reduced to prevent further accidents.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Springhaven: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1943 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AE878
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yarmouth - Yarmouth
Location:
Springhaven
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a training mission from Yarmouth, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Springhaven, 25 km east of Yarmouth. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (34th OTU):
Sgt Kenneth George Calvert, pilot,
Sgt John Edward Franckeiss, pilot,
Sgt Keith Robert Self, pilot.
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