Region
North America

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Powell River

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
West Coast Air Services
Registration:
CF-GEC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
B098
YOM:
1944
Location:
Powell River
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:
After landing off Powell River, the seaplane struck a dyke and sank. The pilot, sole on board, was unhurt.

Crash of a Grumman CS2F-1 Tracker in Castlegar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
C-GHQZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castlegar - Castlegar
MSN:
036
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Tanker 63
Location:
Castlegar-West Kootenay
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 was performing a demo flight at Castlegar Airport when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
La Sarre Air Services
Registration:
C-FTEB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1959
Location:
Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 300 feet, the engine stopped due to lack of fuel. The pilot changed to the fuel selector to another tank that should contained 16 gallons of fuel and tried to restart the engine. However he had neither sufficient time or altitude to complete the operation. The single engine airplane lost height and crashed onto the slope of a wooded hill. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that although the fuel gauge showed 8 gallons in the tank it was almost empty.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Toronto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1978 at 0808 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TLV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ottawa - Toronto - Winnipeg - Vancouver
MSN:
47197
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
AC189
Location:
Toronto-Lester Bowles Pearson
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
102
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
25476
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 23L, at a speed of 145 knots, the crew heard a thumping noise and felt vibrations. In a meantime, the right engine power dropped and a warning light coupled to the right main gear illuminated. The copilot informed the captain about the fact that the right main gear was unsafe. At a speed of 149 knots, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. He deployed the spoilers and activated the thrust reversers systems. The airplane was unable to stop within the 1,219 meters remaining, overran at a speed of 70 knots, rolled on a distance of 139 meters then went down a 15 meters high embankment and eventually came to rest, broken in three. Two passengers were killed while 55 others were injured and 50 unhurt.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the tire n°3 located on the right main gear burst during takeoff, probably due to wear. Few rubber debris damaged various elements of the main gear while other rubber debris were thrown into the right engine, causing it to lose power and the thrust reverser system to malfunction. The decision of the captain to abandon the takeoff procedure was correct but taken too late, more than four seconds after the warning light illuminated in the cockpit. A lack of crew training in emergency situations and a lack of increased monitoring of tire wear were considered as contributing factors. It was also determined that a period of 65,7 seconds elapsed between the brake release and the immobilization of the aircraft.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air in Saint John's: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1978 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Gander Aviation
Registration:
C-GGAL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint John's - Saint Anthony
MSN:
LD-233
YOM:
1965
Location:
Saint John's
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from St John's Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Picco's Ridge located near Portugal Cove, about six km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gerald Eichel, pilot,
Michael Fitzpatrick, copilot.
Passengers:
Bill Manning,
Marc Laterreur,
B. Napier Simpson Jr.,
Robert Painchaud,
Jules Leger,
Jacqueline Leger,
Brenda Babbits,
Alex Babbits.
Source: www.planecrashgirl.ca

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman IV into Witchai Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
C-FISM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
269
YOM:
1943
Location:
Witchai Lake
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Witchai Lake, the pilot initiated a turn to the left when the single engine airplane stalled, struck the water surface and crashed into the lake. The pilot was rescued while the passenger drowned.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 in Pincher Creek

Date & Time: May 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
XV273
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1654
YOM:
1966
Location:
Pincher Creek
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane failed to climb following a downhill takeoff that was completed with a tailwind. It bounced several times then struck trees, stalled and came to rest in a marsh. Two occupants were injured while three others were unhurt.

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander in Winnipeg

Date & Time: May 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander
Operator:
Registration:
C-FEYG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1121-081
YOM:
1966
Location:
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Winnipeg Airport, the crew encountered local patches of fog when the airplane struck the ground and crashed short of runway 13 threshold. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso near Snow Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
CF-NTL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
CV-383
YOM:
1944
Location:
Snow Lake
Manitoba
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 flying at low altitude while completing a firefighting mission when the right engine partially failed. The airplane lost height and crashed, killing both occupants.
Probable cause:
it is believed that the right engine malfunction was probably caused by a momentary fuel starvation due to an asymmetric fuel load.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air near Indian Harbor

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1978 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Lisle Aircraft
Registration:
N28BL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LD-256
YOM:
1966
Location:
Indian Harbor
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot declared an emergency following an in-flight fire. The airplane crash landed in a frozen lake located near Indian Harbor, east coast of Newfoundland. The pilot, sole on board, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight following a possible collision with object.
Final Report:
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