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 Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker into Whitewater Lake

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
12179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Bay - Winnipeg
MSN:
DH78
YOM:
1966
Location:
Sudbury
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from North Bay to Winnipeg, the aircraft was ditched into Whitewater Lake, about 11 km northwest of Sudbury. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 near Pontevedra: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1976 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
UD.13-7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santiago de Compostela - Santiago de Compostela
MSN:
1035
YOM:
1974
Location:
Pontevedra
Galicia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Santiago de Compostela on a fire fighting mission in the region of Pontevedra. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed on the slope of Mt Xiabre and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C Invader in Grand Junction: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1976 at 1618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Lynch Air Tankers
Registration:
N3427G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Grand Junction
MSN:
28704
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 59
Location:
Grand Junction
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4100
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
While completing a fire fighting mission, the pilot made a steep turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during a low pass following improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flew into blind canyon,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- High obstructions,
- High density altitude at 9,700 feet,
- Wind gusting to 25 knots,
- Stall during steep bank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B Invader near Grand Junction: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1976 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Don Goodman
Registration:
N5426E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Grand Junction
MSN:
27425
YOM:
1944
Location:
Grand Junction
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Grand Junction Airport on a fire fighting mission. While turning to final approach for slurry drop, the twin engine airplane flew into a mountain slope and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- Jettisoned load.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver into Lake O'Keefe: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1975
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Laurentian Air Services
Registration:
CF-BPA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wabush - Wabush
MSN:
1612
YOM:
1965
Location:
Lake O'Keefe
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Wabush on a forest fire patrol. In unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into Lake O'Keefe and sank by 80 feet of water. The wreckage was found few hours later about 60 km southwest of Wabush and all four occupants were killed, among them two government conservation officers working as forest rangers for the Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-105-VE Flying Fortress in the US

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Aircraft Specialties Company
Registration:
N621L
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
MSN:
8683
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
Tanker 64
Location:
United States of America
All United States of America
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the US in July 1975, exact date unknown. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-15-DT Invader near Gates Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
C-GHLM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
18820
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 24
Location:
Gates Lake
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, was engaged in a fire fighting mission under call sign 'Tanker 24' in the region of Gates Lake, about 21 km northeast of Pemberton. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon in Addison

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1975 at 1534 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Aircraft Specialties Company
Registration:
N230Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Addison - Addison
MSN:
15-1603
YOM:
1945
Location:
Addison
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2178
Captain / Total hours on type:
199.00
Circumstances:
Following a fire control mission, the crew was returning to Addison Airport. On final approach, a malfunction on the left engine forced the crew to feather its propeller when control was lost. The airplane banked left and crashed about 300 yards short of runway threshold. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stalled on final approach after the crew failed to follow the approved procedures and failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- The pilot feathered the left propeller due to low level engine oil, proved to be erroneous.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26C Invader on Mt Stoyoma: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
CF-DFC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
7111
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Stoyoma
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While engaged in a fire fighting mission, the twin engine airplane crashed on the slope of Mt Stoyoma located 97 km southwest of Kamloops. The wreckage was found two days later and both pilots were killed.
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