Region
North America

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Comes Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
62
YOM:
1949
Location:
Comes Lake
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While flying at low altitude, the single engine airplane struck trees with one of its wings. It lost height and crashed in a wooded area located near Comes Lake, north of Tiberiade Lake. A passenger was killed while two other occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Carling Lake

Date & Time: May 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Central Air Transport - Canada
Registration:
C-FGBX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Carling Lake - Sioux Lookout
MSN:
004
YOM:
1952
Location:
Carling Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
11082
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Carling Lake, while climbing to an altitude of about 200 feet, the engine failed. The aircraft lost speed and height then contacted trees and crashed on the shore. All eight occupants were able to evacuate and were uninjured while the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The possibility that the aircraft stalled on climb out and that the pilot could not recover in time to prevent a collision with the trees cannot be discounted.

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader in Slave Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
C-FBVH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
28003
YOM:
1944
Location:
Slave 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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Slave Lake while engaged in a firefighting mission. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Deer Lake: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Tomahawk Airways
Registration:
C-FEIA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Deer Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Three passengers were seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Buffalo Narrows: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-GZBE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1082
YOM:
1957
Location:
Buffalo Narrows
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing, the single engine airplane struck power cables and crashed. A passenger was killed while five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Halifax: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Eastern Flying Services
Registration:
C-GLFS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-735
YOM:
1971
Location:
Halifax-Stanfield
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on final approach to Halifax-Stanfield Airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Leo Creek: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Smithers Air Service
Registration:
C-FJIK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leo Creek - Smithers
MSN:
229
YOM:
1957
Location:
Leo Creek
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The Otter had been chartered to carry three passengers and a stove to a remote hunting and fishing lodge. On the return flight to Smithers, the environment conscious passengers elected to take their empty beer bottles with them, all 250 to 300 cases. One passenger was in the cockpit, the other two occupied the first row of seats and the rest of the aircraft was filled with empty beer bottles. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft pitched to a steep nose-high attitude which the pilot was unable to prevent or correct. It then stalled and fell to the ground. A severe fuel-fed fire erupted on impact and gutted the aircraft. The pilot was thrown clear but the three passengers died in the fire. The pilot of the Otter was Emil Mesich, who was the owner of Smithers Air Service. The crash caused the company to cease trading and go into receivership. Pilot Mesich was then employed by Central Mountain Air Services Ltd., also based at Smithers. He was the pilot of Otter C-FDJA (459) of Central Mountain Air Services when it crashed near Smithers on 18th September 1982 and was sadly killed in that crash.
Source: Karl E. Hayes
Probable cause:
It was determined that there were no less than 4,773 bottles on board. A weight and balance calculation on this discovery indicated that the gross weight of the Otter was 637 pounds over the maximum, with the CofG 11,5 inches aft of the rear limit. Calculations made by DHC showed that an Otter will run out of elevator control with the CofG four inches aft of the rear limit. The pilot had estimated that a dozen bottles weighed 3 to 4 pounds when the true weight was 7 pounds.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Churchill

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
C-GYHT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22375
YOM:
1945
Location:
Churchill
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Churchill Airport, the crew encountered engine problems. The oil pressure dropped on the left engine while the oil temperature increased. The crew elected to return but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing in a rocky area located about one km short of runway 15. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both occupants escaped with minor injuries. It was later reported that the total weight of the aircraft was well above the max gross weight at takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near McKinstry Lake

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Stewart Lake Air Service
Registration:
C-GAJU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1169
YOM:
1958
Location:
McKinstry 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:
The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing near McKinstry Lake. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Big Trout Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTJA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pickle Lake - Big Trout Lake
MSN:
630
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
UH607
Location:
Big Trout Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Big Trout Lake Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck an NDB tower and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while nine other occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.
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