Canada | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The pilot departed Brandon Airport on an interception exercise. While returning to base, the airplane collided with a second RCAF Crane registered 7756 and also carrying one pilot. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Forrest, about 7 km north of Brandon Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
LAC Ross Francis Kitto, pilot.

Probable cause:

The collision occurred in mid-air when breaking up an unauthorized formation flying when returning from interception exercise.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Forrest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)

Operator:

Registration:

7756

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brandon - Brandon

MSN:

1199

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

127

Captain / Total hours on type:

98.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Brandon Airport on an interception exercise. While returning to base, the airplane collided with a second RCAF Crane registered 7747 and also carrying one pilot. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Forrest, about 7 km north of Brandon Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
LAC Geoffrey Herbert Weston Hamilton, pilot.

Probable cause:

The collision occurred in mid-air when breaking up an unauthorized formation flying when returning from interception exercise.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Blaine Lake

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)

Operator:

Registration:

7706

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saskatoon - Saskatoon

MSN:

1149

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

139

Captain / Total hours on type:

87.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

156

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off at 0750LT, passed over Prince Albert, altered course for North Battleford. About half way to North Battleford, while flying at 4,650 feet, the pilot decided to drop down to 200 feet, then flew low just over tree tops for about 10 miles. The starboard engine missed a couple of times and while the pilot diverted his attention to adjusting mixture control, the aircraft struck the tops of trees and crashed, seriously injuring the occupants.
Crew:
LAC R. G. Cotton, pilot,
LAC J. J. L. Chale, navigator.

Probable cause:

Unauthorized low flying.

Crash of a Cessna Crane I at Rivers AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942 at 1025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)

Operator:

Registration:

7826

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rivers - Rivers

MSN:

1269

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

Captain / Total hours on type:

63.00

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rivers AFB on a local training flight with other similar airplane. Fifteen minutes after takeoff on their first solo formation flight LAC McRae, then leading, gave signal to change from port echelon to starboard echelon. LAC Gibson in making the change piloted his aircraft 7826 in such a way that it came up immediately in front of the leader, collided and fell out of control with its tail cut off. It crashed in a field near the airport while the second airplane 7791 landed safely. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC H. F. Gibson, pilot.

Probable cause:

Error of judgement due to inexperience on the part of the pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Watson Lake

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1453

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1453

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a transit flight to Alaska when it suffered a fuel exhaustion and crash landed near Watson Lake. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Watson Lake

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1502

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1502

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a transit flight to Alaska when it suffered a fuel exhaustion and crash landed near Watson Lake. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Watson Lake

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1501

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1501

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a transit flight to Alaska when it suffered a fuel exhaustion and crash landed near Watson Lake. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Watson Lake

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1459

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1459

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a transit flight to Alaska when it suffered a fuel exhaustion and crash landed near Watson Lake. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress at Argentia NAS

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

39-9

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2041

YOM:

1938

Location:

Argentia NAS

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Argentia NAS, the airplane suffered a technical failure. It went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the engine supercharger regulator failed during takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Gander

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2393

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2204

YOM:

1941

Location:

Gander

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Gander Airport, the airplane veered off runway and crashed into a snow bank. There were no injuries but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.