Associated Airways

The crew was returning to Yellowknife on a flight from Shepard Bay. En route, the crew became lost and after multiple attempts to establish their location, did a controlled ditching (at night) into a lake in the Thoa River area. The crew was unable to get to shore due to the water temperature and sat on the extended flaps, just 3 feet above the water surface. After 2 days the Captain died from exposure but the Co-pilot remained alive until rescued 10 days after the accident.

The aircraft took off at approximately 1700LT on a local test flight carrying a crew of 2 and 4 passengers. The purpose of the flight was to test the single-engine performance of the aircraft when loaded to the maximum permissible weight for take-off and to determine the correct power setting and performance. Just before 1705LT witnesses stated that they saw the aircraft turn onto its back with a sudden cessation of engine noise and white or grey vapor was seen to come from both engines as it dived in a very steep nose down attitude to the ground. From statements of witnesses it was deduced that it was probable that the aircraft was below 1,000 feet when it turned onto its back. The aircraft exploded on impact and caught fire. All the occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 33 at Edmonton Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit an obstacle and crashed in flames on a railway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both crew members were killed.

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.