Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Chisasibi

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IAX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19499
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all eight occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker in Bayswater: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
12182
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
DH81
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bayswater while completing a local training mission out from Shearwater AFB. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Mosher Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
C-FAWF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bella Bella - Babine Lake
MSN:
67
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet over mountainous area, the crew elected to gain height but the decision was too late. The airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 80 km northeast of Bella Coola. A passenger was killed while 18 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Brocket

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKFC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Winnipeg - Lethbridge - Vernon
MSN:
4200
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Lethbridge to Vernon, while cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot declared an emergency to ATC after a fire erupted in the rear of the cabin. The crew reduced his altitude and decided to divert to Pincher Creek Airport but fire and smoke spread in the cabin. In such conditions, the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 8 km east of Brocket. The airplane landed and came to rest in flames. While all 28 occupants were able to evacuate uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
An unknown fire erupted in the passenger cabin, near the washroom.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Abitibi Canyon: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1976 at 1337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-MIT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moosonee - Timmins
MSN:
372
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
11573
Circumstances:
On Saturday 4th September '76 at approximately 12:00 hours, the pilot while preparing Otter MIT for flight, called the local company radio operator to request weather information for his VFR flight to Timmins. The operator transmitted the 11:23 terminal forecast for Timmins, the 10:00 observation for Moosonee and the 11:18 special observation for Timmins. The terminal reports for Moosonee and Timmins were much better than forecast and acceptable for VFR flight. At about 12:10 the radio operator at Moosonee received a special weather observation for Timmins which indicated deteriorating weather but did not pass this vital information to the pilot at that time. The Otter departed at 12:30 and shortly after take off the pilot advised the company operator at Moosonee that his estimated time of arrival at the South Porcupine seaplane base was 14:30. A few minutes later the radio operator attempted several times to contact the aircraft, to pass the new weather information,but without success. No other radio transmission was heard from the Otter. Because the flight was operating under VFR rules and because some of his passengers had limited time to make airline connections at Timmins, the pilot elected for the direct route, a distance of 165 nautical miles between the Moosonee and Timmins NDBs. To follow this route, the pilot would have used his ADF radio equipment and / or map reading techniques. Considering the cloud ceilings were at about one thousand feet and some terrain in the area rises to 950 feet, the deteriorating conditions would have induced the pilot to divert from the planned track. Since the accident site was 28 miles west of the direct track, it is probable that he diverted westward toward lower terrain to go around poor weather. Arriving at the Abitibi River, he followed the river southward to the accident site near the Abitibi Canyon Dam. The valley narrows and the terrain rises at this site of the power dam. It is believed that the pilot found the visibility decreasing rapidly in dense upslope fog in this vicinity. At 13:37 hours the aircraft struck the high tension electrical cables near the generating station and crashed to the ground. After impact a fire developed and consumed the aircraft, which had 11,573 hours on the airframe at the time. From the geometry of the wirestrike, it is probably that the pilot saw the wires and commenced a climbing turn to try and get over them, but had insufficient time to avoid the collision. The airplane has been chartered for the Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning for Ontario.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Island Lake

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-OBO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
N29-24
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot started the descent to Island Lake at sunset and the visibility was limited. On final approach to the lake, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the water surface and came to rest upside down. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Ile-à-la-Crosse

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prince Albert – Buffalo Narrows
MSN:
271
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13435
Circumstances:
The Otter had taken off that day from Prince Albert on a flight to Buffalo Narrows. Six miles north of Ile-à-la-Crosse, following an engine failure, the pilot made a forced landed in the bush and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The flight had proceeded for one hour forty minutes without incident when there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a complete power loss. Smoke was emitted into the cockpit and the pilot commenced a forced landing. Attempts to regain power were to no avail and the pilot transmitted a mayday, which was acknowledged by another aircraft. The Otter touched down in a semi-clear area in bush country in a nose high, full flap configuration. The pilot and passenger evacuated the Otter fearing a post crash fire, however none followed. They were located by a rescue party a short time after the crash.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.
Probable cause:
The power loss was the result of a failure of the master rod and link rods.

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

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FODP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
103
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
5586
Circumstances:
Shortly after becoming airborne, the left wing dropped and struck the water. It was a warm, summer's day with a temperature of 23° C and a wind of 15 knots. The aircraft turned approximately 150° after the wing struck the water and crashed on the shore of an island. Fire started on impact and consumed most of the aircraft, although there were no injuries to the pilot and four passengers.
Source: Karl E. Hayes
Probable cause:
The subsequent report blamed the accident on “improper compensation for wind”.

Crash of a Cessna 401A off Toronto: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6203Q
Survivors:
No
MSN:
401A-0003
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Toronto City-Billy Bishop Airport, while completing a last turn, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Lake Ontario. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. They were flying to Toronto to take part to a physicians annual convention. The pilot, Dr. Donald Frankel, was the president of the Flying Physicians Association. His secretary Luella Roberts and Jacquelin Ann Boehne were also killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Asbestos

Date & Time: May 20, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FKZ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9052
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Asbestos Airstrip, Quebec. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.