Region
North America

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Dartmouth: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940 at 0825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
759
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dartmouth - Dartmouth
MSN:
414-1740
YOM:
1940
Location:
Dartmouth
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local practice flying exercise out of RCAF Dartmouth for qualification first pilot. After takeoff, at a height of 100 feet, the right engine cut out and the airplane crashed into water off the McNabs Island, about five miles southwest of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O J. J. Lalonde, pilot,
Cpl M. J. Armitage, navigator.
Probable cause:
Failure of the main fuel line on lower left hand side of the right engine. Failure of the left engine due to wrong manipulation of the fuel selector valve. The pilot or crewman turned the engine fuel selector valve to the 'right engine ON' position, thereby cutting off the fuel supply to the good motor (left) and diverting it to the dead motor. This caused the good motor (left) to fail also.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Sydney

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Cape Breton Flying Club
Registration:
CF-CED
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sydney - Sydney
MSN:
488
YOM:
1928
Location:
Sydney
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Sydney, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Stoney Lake

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1940 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
6057
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Camp Borden - Camp Borden
Location:
Stoney Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After departing RCAF Camp Borden on an advanced training - practice instrument flying exercise, the pilot continued to Stoney Lake. He descended too low over the water, causing the airplane to impact the water surface and to crash. Both occupants escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt C. F. K. Mews, pilot.
Passenger:
Sgt W. A. Winder.
Probable cause:
Error in judgment on part of the pilot coming to close to surface of water before trying to level off. Low flying on the part of the pilot over Stoney Lake, when not authorized to do so.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Newtonville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1940 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
770
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rockcliffe - Toronto
MSN:
414-1757
YOM:
1940
Location:
Newtonville
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RCAF Rockcliffe on a special flight to Toronto, carrying three crew members and the Minister of Defence Norman Rogers. As the flight progressed, the crew pressed on into deteriorating weather, including low ceiling and poor visibility. It is thought that the pilot was trying to locate a safe landing site near Newtonville when the starboard wing struck some trees while it was making a 45° bank turn. The Hudson impacted the ground and disintegrated, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
Investigation concluded that the pilot lost visual reference to the ground during a steep turn towards rising terrain without first gaining a safe altitude. A contributing factor was the fact that the Hudson had a tendency to experience some loss of control during a steep turn.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Grafton: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1940 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
678
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Camp Borden – Trenton
MSN:
20
YOM:
1938
Location:
Grafton
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1040
Captain / Total hours on type:
137.00
Circumstances:
En route from Camp Borden to Trenton, while cruising at night in adverse weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in high ground near Grafton. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/L H. B. Jasper, pilot,
F/O J. E. Pidcook, navigator,
F/O G. E. Auld, navigator,
AC1 J. R. Kean, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
While in a night cross country flight to give experience in practical air navigation, the pilot lost control of the airplane when flying in adverse weather conditions at low altitude over high ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild 71C in the Canada Bay

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Imperial Airways (Canada)
Registration:
VO-AFG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
14
YOM:
1936
Location:
Canada Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Canada Bay while completing a flight from England. The exact date remains unknown, somewhere in April 1940. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas Digby I in Dartmouth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1940 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
743
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dartmouth - Dartmouth
MSN:
1635
YOM:
1936
Location:
Dartmouth
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
260
Captain / Total hours on type:
93.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
218
Copilot / Total hours on type:
32
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at Dartmouth Airport, carrying three crew members and three passengers. Making a landing in a strong gusty crosswind which required expert handling of controls. The pilot pulled the aircraft off after realizing he would run off the runway, as the aircraft had insufficient flying speed it stalled, the left wing hit the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled. A crew was killed and all five other occupants were injured, one seriously.
Crew:
F/O R. R. Dennis, pilot,
F/O J. G. Richardson, copilot,
AC1 J. P. Wood, wireless operator.
Passengers:
AC1 R. A. Barry,
AC1 R. A. Thomas,
AC1 J. H. E. Wiskin. †
Probable cause:
Errors on part of the pilot due to inexperience in carrying out a crosswind landing. He failed to counteract drop of the left wing by not pushing the control column hard forward sufficiently. He failed to stop the aircraft from wheatercocking into wind after landing by not applying sufficient windward engine and opposite brake. He attempted to take off again when all flying speed was lost and stalled while doing so.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Windermere

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Radium Hot Springs Flying Service
Registration:
CF-AGK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1343
YOM:
1929
Location:
Windermere
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Windermere, south of Radium Hot Springs. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problem.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Carcross

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
White Pass Airways
Registration:
NC5092
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-019
YOM:
1928
Location:
Carcross
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the three engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a hangar. While the pilot was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The cause of the loss of control remains unknown.

Crash of a Junkers W.34fi near Waterways: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
CF-ARI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2732
YOM:
1933
Location:
Fort McMurray
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort McMurray, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located some 5 miles south of Waterways. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot William Beaman Donoghue was seriously injured. He died few hours later from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.
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