Region
North America

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Maurelle Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
N68084
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stuart Island - Quadra Island
MSN:
912
YOM:
1956
Location:
Maurelle Island
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Stuart Island on a short flight to Quadra Island, located 39 km away. About five minutes after takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane that nosed down and crashed few hundred meters off Maurelle Island. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 in Suffield

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
XP805
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1454
YOM:
1961
Location:
Suffield
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching RCAF Suffield in turbulences, the pilot initiated a right turn when the right wing struck trees. The aircraft crashed and was damaged beyond repair. All four occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Thompson

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
C-FQIX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7476
YOM:
1944
Location:
Thompson
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 Thompson Airport, the engine n°1 caught fire. The crew initiated a turn and was able to complete a safe landing. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was partially destroyed by fire. It was reported that the fire extinguisher system failed, causing the fire to spread to the entire left wing.
Probable cause:
Fire in engine n°1 after takeoff and failure of the fire extinguisher system.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air near Sherrington: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
C-FCAS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LJ-23
YOM:
1965
Location:
Sherrington
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a regional flight on behalf of the Department of Transportation of Canada. While cruising at an altitude of 1,700 feet, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a prairie located about 5 km northwest of Sherrington. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Elements of the right wight detached in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Fairchild F27 in Quebec: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1979 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
C-FQBL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Quebec - Montreal
MSN:
47
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
QB255
Location:
Québec-Jean Lesage (Ancienne Lorette)
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Quebec-Ancienne Lorette Airport, en route to Montreal-Dorval Airport, the right engine caught fire. The captain contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. He initiated a turn to the right when the airplane lost height, struck the ground and crashed in flames about 1,300 meters short of runway. Seven passengers were seriously injured while 17 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that during initial climb, the low pressure impeller from the right (n°2) engine burst, causing the forward part of the engine to separate. The gear couldn't be raised because of engine debris damage to the electronic gear selection circuitry. This, including the exposed engine and lower cowl, increased the drag. In this configuration the aircraft wasn't capable of out-climbing obstacles straight ahead nor capable of maintaining altitude during the right hand turn. Engine separation and passenger movement resulted in the center of gravity shifting beyond its aft limit. The airspeed then decreased until the aircraft struck the ground at or below the minimum control speed (Vmc). Investigations revealed that the low pressure impeller burst due to the presence of fatigue cracks that had not been detected by the technicians in charge of the aircraft's maintenance.

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

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
B-M Aviation
Registration:
C-GUIG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
735
YOM:
1954
Location:
Atlin
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While flying over mountainous terrain, the pilot realized that the summit was shrouded by clouds. He decided to turn back and initiated a turn to the left when he lost visual contact with the ground. The airplane struck the ground and crashed on a snow covered area. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger, seating in the cabin, was killed. It was reported that the aircraft was equipped with one seat only and the passenger was seating on the ground, without a seat belt.

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

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-FZKJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1956
Location:
Kuujjuarapik (Poste-de-la-Baleine)
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route to Kuujjuarapik Airport (Poste-de-la-Baleine), about 25 miles from the destination, the pilot informed ATC about the deterioration of the weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. Because he could see intermittently the airport, he decided to continue the approach. On short final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed about 300 feet short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. The flight was completed on behalf of Brochu Industries.
Probable cause:
VFR approach in IMC conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Ocean Falls

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Gulf Air - Canada
Registration:
CF-EYS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bella Bella - Ocean Falls
MSN:
484
YOM:
1953
Location:
Ocean Falls
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:
While approaching Ocean Falls on a flight from Bella Bella, weather conditions worsened with a limited visibility due to snow falls. At low height, the airplane struck the water surface and crashed in the Cousins Inlet. The pilot, sole on board, was rescued.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in North Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
C-FAUK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
North Bay
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to North Bay Airport by night, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 1,6 km short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Potter Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Lindberghs Hunt & Fish Air
Registration:
C-FLUB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1324
YOM:
1959
Location:
Potter Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was returning to its base in Cochrane, carrying one pilot and two passengers flying back from a hunting camp. While cruising at low level so that the passengers could take pictures, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near Potter Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that a moose was spotted and a steep turn was initiated. During the turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that went in a steep nose down and inverted attitude. It was reported that the aircraft did not have a ventral fin installed and this was not a legal requirement. The fin makes a float equipped aircraft much more directionally stable.
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