Region
North America

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

Date & Time: May 5, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Hollinger Ungava Transport
Registration:
CF-GQK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
85
YOM:
1950
Location:
Mont-Joli
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Mont-Joli Airport, while climbing, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed upside down. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot Albert King was killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Quicke Lake

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Lau-Goma Airways
Registration:
CF-ECJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
N29-41
YOM:
1948
Location:
Quicke Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Quicke Lake, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed in a wooded area. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power due to carburetor icing is suspected.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II in Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-0991
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Churchill - Frobisher Bay
MSN:
43900
YOM:
1952
Location:
Frobisher Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Frobisher Bay Airport (Iqaluit), the four engine aircraft dipped below the level of the runway, then get the correct level. It almost made it but the landing gear caught on the very end of the runway and the plane did a cartwheel which tore off the starboard wing. The nose did not touch the runway, but the entire plane flipped over, broke up into many pieces and caught fire. All five crew members were seriously injured and evacuated to Goose Bay. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The engine number one continued to function for a day or so before the decision was made to shut off the fuel supply. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Churchill, carrying a load of Snow Cats (Bombardier Snowmobiles).
Source & photos: Ray White

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 at Hall Lake

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HMX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
MW167
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hall Lake
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Hall Lake, the four engine aircraft hit a snow bank and came to rest, broken in two. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned in situ.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Yellowknife

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HMZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
MW147
YOM:
1945
Location:
Yellowknife
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Yellowknife Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a snow covered field. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Saint Anthony

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GPM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
162
YOM:
1943
Location:
Saint Anthony
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from the harbor of Saint Anthony, the single engine aircraft went through the ice and came to rest partially submerged. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-121J Super Constellation off Codroy: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1955 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
131639
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stephenville – Patuxent
MSN:
4140
YOM:
1953
Location:
Codroy
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising by night over the Prince Edward Island, the crew informed ATC about a dual engine failure and elected to return to Stephenville-Ernest Harmon Airport. While approaching Newfoundland, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the gulf of Saint-Laurent off Codroy, about 112 km southwest of Stephenville. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard in London

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-73 Mallard
Operator:
Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario
Registration:
CF-GEU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
J-33
YOM:
1947
Location:
London
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from London Airport, the crew reported severe icing conditions. The captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Crumlin, near the airfield. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson V in Buffalo Narrows: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FVZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saskatoon – Buffalo Narrows
MSN:
MDF-297
Location:
Buffalo Narrows
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Buffalo Narrows Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All eight occupants, among them five children and the pilot Stuart Millar were killed. It was reported by locals that the accident was the result of a bird strike on final.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation in Brampton

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1954 at 2132 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TGG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tampa-Toronto
MSN:
4564
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
TCA407
Location:
Brampton
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
763
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Tampa, the captain started a night approach to Toronto-Malton Airport. During an ILS approach in poor weather conditions (300 feet ceiling), the four engine aircraft descended below the glide and hit the ground about 11 miles short of runway 10. It slid for 2,000 feet before coming to rest in flames. All 23 occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The Board of Inquiry found that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the captain. The following findings were reported:
- The first officer, despite his duties which involved "In-Range" and "Pre-Landing" checks during the approach pattern, displayed an alertness concerning the procedures carried out by the captain, and on three separate occasions indicated to the captain conditions which required correction,
- The captain of the aircraft showed poor airmanship in the execution of his approach pattern, in that he made inadequate allowance for the strong prevailing wind and failed to utilize the ADF receiver to home on the outer marker,
- The captain failed to carry out an approved ILS let-down and, in so far as the position and the altitude of the aircraft were concerned, he ignored the indications of the ADF needle tuned to the marker, the ILS glide path needle and the altimeter,
- The captain ignored the warning from his first officer that he had descended below the regulation height,
- The captain was under the impression that he was very much closer to the airport than he actually was,
- The captain broke the regulations regarding the minimum altitude at which the glide path is to be intersected, the minimum altitude at which the outer marker is to be crossed, and the minimum altitude to which the aircraft may descend on the approach at Malton without becoming contact, and continued his descent until he flew into the ground.
Final Report:
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