Region
North America

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Vanscoy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1942 at 1240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7657
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vanscoy - Saskatoon
MSN:
1100
YOM:
1941
Location:
Vanscoy
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
79
Captain / Total hours on type:
6.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
81
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Vanscoy Airport, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the twin engine airplane suffered a structural failure, dove into the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured. The airplane was on a ferry flight to Saskatoon Airport.
Crew:
F/Sgt Hugh Charles Campbell, pilot. †
Passengers:
LAC Benjamin Dean Cook, †
LAC Hubert Vernol Ford, †
LAC E. P. Friesen,
LAC A. L. Freebairn.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in initial climb after fabric peeled off from the right wing. The accident was due to a structural failure caused by overstressing as a result of a rapidly executed manoeuvre made by the pilot during unauthorized aerobatics.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Saskatoon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1942 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7717
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saskatoon - Saskatoon
MSN:
1160
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
135
Captain / Total hours on type:
84.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Saskatoon Airport on a solo training exercise. The airplane entered a dive and crashed 17 miles north of the Saskatoon Airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Leslie William Gillan, pilot.
Probable cause:
Obscure. Extensive disintegration makes it unable to obtain any material evidence from wreckage. Nature of final dive shows structural failure of the elevator controls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Calgary: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
8129
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Calgar
MSN:
1622
YOM:
1942
Location:
Calgary
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
149
Captain / Total hours on type:
91.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
147
Copilot / Total hours on type:
81
Aircraft flight hours:
230
Circumstances:
The crew departed Calgary Airport on a local instrument flying instruction exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed three miles east of the airport. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harold Ernest Pitt, instructor,
LAC Frederick George Pike, pilot,
LAC Oliver James Nichols, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. A possible carbon monoxide poisoning was not ruled out.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I Near Valley River: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7921
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dauphin - Dauphin
MSN:
1414
YOM:
1942
Location:
Valley River
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
94
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Dauphin Airport on a local solo training sortie. About 4,5 miles north of Valley River, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Keith Francis Somerville, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. No evidence showed that the spin was intentional or inadvertent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman IV in Dumas Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-BDG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Yellowknife – Cambridge Bay
MSN:
14
YOM:
1937
Location:
Dumas Lake
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Yellowknife to Cambridge Bay, a fire erupted on board, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing on Dumas Lake. After touchdown, the single engine airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Rescue teams arrived on scene on March 3, 1942. While the pilot and a passenger were evacuated, the second passenger was killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
An uncontained fire erupted in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson off Patricia Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1942 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
776
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Patricia Bay - Patricia Bay
MSN:
414-1770
YOM:
1940
Location:
Patricia Bay
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
141
Captain / Total hours on type:
23.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Patricia Bay Airport on a local training exercise. This was the first solo flight for the crew. After approaching for a landing, the pilot proceeded to make another circuit. The airplane appeared to climb slowly and when in the vicinity of Shoal Harbor was seen to assume a steep dive from which it never recovered. The airplane crashed into the sea off Patricia Bay Airport. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Miller Hatfield, pilot,
P/O Bruce Hutchinson, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Apparent loss of control through misuse of controls. Flaps apparently fully extended and elevator trimming tab turned to nose heavy position, causing the airplane to become extremely nose heavy. Poor airmanship by pilot on first solo on Hudson in that he carried out faulty manipulation of flap controls, resulting in his crash into Shoal Bay.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Moon Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1942 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7703
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saska
MSN:
1146
YOM:
1941
Location:
Moon Lake
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1000
Captain / Total hours on type:
789.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Saskatoon on a training mission in formation with a second RCAF Crane registered 7831 and carrying two crew members (one instructor and one student pilot). In unknown circumstances, both airplanes collided in mid-air. While the pilot of 7831 was able to complete an emergency landing, 7703 went out of control and crashed in Moon Lake, about 17 km south of Saskatoon. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
LAC M. D. Knight.
Final Report:

Ground accident of an Avro 652A Anson I in Hamilton

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6251
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
Location:
Hamilton-John C. Munro
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
708
Captain / Total hours on type:
506.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
241
Copilot / Total hours on type:
208
Circumstances:
The airplane commenced taxiing at Hamilton (Mt Hope) Station and immediately swung around. On turning, it collided with a second RCAF Anson registered L8752 that was parked. Anson K6251 was damaged beyond repair while the second airplane was repaired. All five crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O I. Robertson, pilot,
Cpl A. Moir,
AC2 H. W. Downham,
LAC E. G. Teed,
LAC Morrall.
Probable cause:
Ground collision following the failure of brake dual relay valve.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Newfoundland

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
768
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint John's - Saint John's
MSN:
414-1752
YOM:
1940
Location:
Newfoundland
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
837
Captain / Total hours on type:
837.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
291
Copilot / Total hours on type:
230
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed St John's (Torbay) Airport on a maritime patrol flight with a crew of four on board. While returning to base, the crew encountered bad weather when one of the engine failed after the carburetor got iced. The pilot made a wheels up landing in dead timber in East Newfoundland. All four crew members were rescued in February and transferred to local hospital in good condition. The airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
F/Lt A. S. Pilcher, pilot,
Sgt H. A. Wishart, copilot,
Sgt H. F. Taylor, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt L. A. McGregor, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure cause by icing conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10 Electra in MacGregor: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1942 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
7841
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Weyburn - Winnipeg
MSN:
1012
YOM:
1934
Location:
MacGregor
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Weyburn on a flight to Winnipeg after collecting ferry pilots on completion of their duty. It was seen in the vicinity of MacGregor, where witnesses state evidence that engines were not operating properly. The airplane stalled and dove into the ground, killing all seven occupants.
Crew:
F/Lt William John Dyson, pilot.
Passengers:
Sgt J. L. Clark,
W/O William Frederick Field,
Sgt H. M. Holland,
LAC T. C. Bate,
Sgt A. R. Lane,
F/O John Henry Thrift.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:
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