Canada | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed North Battleford Airport on a local training exercise with two pilots on board. While circling north of the airfield, it collided with a second RCAF Oxford registered AS186 and carrying one pilot. Both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed eight km north of North Battleford Airport. Both airplanes were destroyed and both crew members on board AS550 were killed while the pilot of AS186 was slightly injured.
Crew:
P/O D. H. Hodgkinson, pilot,
LAC B. Evans, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilots failed to keep a proper lookout for other aircraft in the vicinity.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Yale: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941 at 1720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N9818

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

McLeod – Patricia Bay

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed McLeod on a ferry flight to Patricia Bay (Victoria) on behalf of the Western Air Command. While cruising northwest of Yale, BC, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (32th OTU):
P/O L. W. Brooks, pilot,
Sgt L.P. Bretland,
D. B. Hartley.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft S18D near Pelly Crossing

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft S18

Operator:

Registration:

CF-BVC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

265

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training (familiarization) flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances about two miles south of the Pelly River, near Pelly Crossing. Both pilots were uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Kisbey

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1941 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

6450

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rivers - Rivers

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

575

Captain / Total hours on type:

90.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Rivers AFB on a navigation training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the airplane flew into heavy rain and went into a spin. The pilot recovered control at low altitude but the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located near Kisbey. Two crew members were injured and three others escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt C. K. Gilbert,
F/L R. D. Christie,
Sgt L. J. Skippen,
Sgt J. M. Fraser,
AC1 A. J. Wilson.

Probable cause:

Unauthorized pilot (officer) took over controls from the Sergaent Pilot (Captain) of the airplane. Sgt Gilbert should be absolved of the blame because he was under the impression that F/Lt Christie was a qualified pilot and as a F/Lt had more experience than himself.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Blaine Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

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

Operator:

Registration:

7681

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saskatoon - Saskatoon

MSN:

1124

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:

24.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Saskatoon in the morning for a training exercise. The pilot apparently encountered weather conditions of low ceiling and very limited visibility due to clouds and fog over high ground. In attempting to continue his cross-country flight he struck the top of a hill. The aircraft exploded and burned when it struck the ground, some 25 km northwest of Blaine Lake. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC Ronald George Measor, pilot,
LAC William Stevens Morris, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilot was low flying because of weather conditions and struck a hill at high speed. Controlled flight into terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Saskatoon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1941 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

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

Operator:

Registration:

7700

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saskatoon - Saskatoon

MSN:

1143

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:

23.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Saskatoon Airport on a local solo training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled, spun into ground and burned. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Henry Orville Richardson, pilot.

Probable cause:

Error of judgment on the part of the pilot. The pilot of the aircraft committed an error in judgment in that he attempted to turn the aircraft when flying at insufficient airspeed, and that he could have made a landing in the surrounding fields without attempting a turn back to the aerodrome.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson on Mt McDougall: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1941 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

6568

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Calgary - Calgary

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Calgary Airport on a training exercise. The pilot became trapped in a dead end canyon during an unauthorized low flying, causing the airplane to impact trees while attempting to turn around at west end of Canyon, on Mt McDougall. The starboard horizontal stabilizer was torn off and the airplane crashed on the slope of the mountain, some 71 km west-southwest of Calgary. Two crew members were killed and a third was seriously injured.
Crew:
F/O Ian MacDonell Sutherland Brown, †
LAC Frederick William Greenfield, †
LAC A. M. R. McGruther.

Probable cause:

Unauthorized low flying on part of the pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth near Gogama

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Provincial Air Service of Lands & Forests

Registration:

G-CAOY

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gogama - Sault Sainte Marie

MSN:

504

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from a lake located some 24 km from Gogama. The crew was en route to Sault Sainte Marie on a fire fighting mission. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas Digby I in Gander: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1941 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

742

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Gander - Gander

MSN:

1634

YOM:

1936

Location:

Gander

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

630

Captain / Total hours on type:

300.00

Circumstances:

At 1856 GMT on 24 July 1941, RCAF Douglas Digby 742 left Gander with a crew of six for the purpose of convoy patrols. At 2320 GMT the weather began to deteriorate and the Meteorological Office predicted that the ceiling would remain at about 1500 feet with showers. At 2326 GMT the aircraft was recalled, but Digby 742 did not immediately respond. The recall notice was repeated four times by Gander Station and twice by RCAF Station, Sydney. The recall was acknowledged at 0030 GMT and at 0151 GMT the aircraft was in range of the Gander airbase. Digby 742 was spotted by Airport Control, but the aircraft reported that it could not see the airport. By this time, the ceiling had deteriorated to 200 feet with rain and increased wind and the cloud had begun to blow across the runway. When Digby 742 arrived, RCAF Digby 756 was attempting to land at Gander and Digby 742 was instructed to circle until Digby 756 had landed. Digby 756 landed safely at 0219 GMT but for approximately the next twenty minutes, Digby 742 was out of communication range. Captain Tomsett was instructed to proceed to Dartmouth where the weather conditions were more favourable but the Captain stated that he would attempt to land at Gander one final time and would proceed to Dartmouth if that landing was unsuccessful. At 0310 GMT a loud explosion was heard and there was no further communication with the aircraft. At 0330 GMT, the ceiling began to steadily rise becoming 1400 feet by 0530 GMT.
Crew:
F/Lt Martin Edward Tomsett, pilot,
P/O William Hume Mather, pilot,
P/O Allan Gower Pratt, navigator,
Cpl Thomas James Larmour Crawford, wireless operator,
Sgt Mervyn Samuel Hunt, air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Laird McDavid, air gunner.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/02/19/rcaf-digby-742/

Probable cause:

Although weather conditions had deteriorated, at this time there were no regulations for minimum ceiling. The conditions that were present at the time of the crash were poor and landing should only have been attempted by an experience pilot. As a result of this crash, recommendations were made to the RCAF to put in place regulations for landing in poor conditions based on the time of day (day or night flying) and the experience of the pilot; an experienced pilot is considered to have completed at least 300 hours of flying on that specific type of aircraft. The determination that weather conditions are poor would be based on the ceiling level and at the discretion of the Aerodrome Control Officer.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Saskatoon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1941 at 0215 LT

Type of aircraft:

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

Operator:

Registration:

7709

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saskatoon - Saskatoon

MSN:

1152

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was conducting a night training exercise at Saskatoon Airport. The aircraft burst into flames as the pilot circled to land after making frantic signals with identification lights as though in trouble. At about 500 feet, the aircraft caught on fire and dived straight into the ground. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
LAC George Edward Baker, pilot.

Probable cause:

The airplane caught fire in flight for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

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