Crash of a Beechcraft D18 near Hottah Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-RLD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cambridge Bay – Yellowknife
MSN:
A-626
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Cambridge Bay on a mercy flight to Yellowknife, carrying two Inuit patients and a nurse. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed near Hottah Lake, in the region of Great Bear Lake, some 300 km north of Yellowknife. The nurse and a patient were killed while the pilot and the second patient, a boy aged 14, were injured. As the pilot suffered broken bones, the boy helped keep him alive by building a fire and shelter. The pilot resorted to eating flesh from one of the dead passengers while the boy abstained. About three weeks after the accident, the boy died of hunger and cold. On December 7, 1972 a Hercules on a routine mission picked up the ELT of the crashed plane. Shortly after two rescue specialists were dropped but unfortunately only the pilot was still alive.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Kuujjuarapik

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-AAD
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1658
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kuujjuarapik Airport, a propeller oversped and the crew was unable to feather it. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing but on descent, a unsafe gear indication forced him to 'delay' the landing and to overshoot. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Kuujjuarapik. All 16 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

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

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IFG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
805
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After the aircraft crossed the lake at low altitude, the pilot initiated a steep turn to the left to avoid 200 feet hill. Doing so, the left wing tip struck spruce trees and then the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel and to crash in flames. Three passengers were injured while a fourth passenger and the pilot were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Flin Flon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CF-ECE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
N29-36
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
11800
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Flin Flon Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into a lake and sank. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The engine failed during initial climb after a fuel line broke, causing the fuel to leak in the engine and to catch fire while contacting high temperature parts.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Ram Plateau

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-XUX
Flight Phase:
Site:
MSN:
72
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in Ram Plateau, in the region of Fort Smith. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle near Chetwynd: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CF-XWI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Edmonton - Chetwynd
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Edmonton, carrying engineers and employees from the Western Construction & Lumber Company en route to Chetwynd on a mining prospective program. En route, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions and informed ATC about his position vertical to Dawson Creek, this was the last radio contact. While approaching Chetwynd in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Wartenbe located 14 km southeast of the airport. Due to the ELT transmitter, the wreckage was quickly localized but unfortunately, all six occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds and the visibility was poor due to heavy rain falls.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. It was determined that the pilot was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in Winnipeg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1972 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IRY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Winnipeg - Oxford House
MSN:
A-259
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Winnipeg Airport runway 13, while climbing to a height of about 100 feet, the twin engine airplane banked right then stalled and crashed in flames onto two houses located in 426 & 430 Linwood Street, about one km south of the end of runway 13. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them seven students returning home. Despite both houses were destroyed, nobody on the ground was wounded. According to eyewitnesses, both engines were not running properly prior to the loss of control.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an engine malfunction or failure.

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

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CF-AXD
Survivors:
No
MSN:
609
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Jenpeg Airport, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor near Hammell Lake

Date & Time: May 23, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-NHW
Flight Phase:
MSN:
AF-477
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Hammell Lake. The occupant's fate remains unknown and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20F in Montreal

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OH-FFW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montreal - Keflavik - Helsinki
MSN:
243
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mirabel Airport, while in initial climb, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and completed a safe belly landing in a snow covered field located near the airport. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines after takeoff due to both compressors icing.