Country
Canada

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso in Thunder Bay

Date & Time: May 14, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
C-GFFD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thunder Bay - Thunder Bay
MSN:
CV-441
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 5
Location:
Thunder Bay
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Thunder Bay, while climbing, the right engine failed while the left engine lost power. The aircraft descended, struck obstacles and eventually crashed in a prairie. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during initial climb because the fuel was contaminated by water.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Sioux Lookout

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
C-GFFJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sioux Lookout - Sioux Lookout
MSN:
2067
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 9
Location:
Sioux Lookout
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Sioux Lookout and was completing a scooping maneuver on Lake Jackson when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

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 Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Shawnigan Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1968 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
CF-FFY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Victoria - Victoria
MSN:
1842
YOM:
1944
Location:
Jarvis Lake
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:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in Jarvis Lake on behalf of the BC Forest Service. While flying at low height, the airplane struck trees and crashed. Both pilots Thomas Swanson and Tom Worley were killed.
Probable cause:
Misjudgement of altitude on part of the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated PBV-1A Canso near Victoria: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1967 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
CF-FFX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Victoria - Victoria
MSN:
CV-293
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
Tanker 772
Location:
Victoria
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10300
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
53
Circumstances:
The crew was called at 1630LT for a forest fire that erupted on Skirt mountain near Victoria. The crew first made a scooping mission on the Saanich Inlet with more than 1,000 gallons of water. About an hour later, while flying at low height, the left wing of Tanker 772 struck a tree and the airplane crashed. Both pilots were killed, Alex Davidson (founder of The Flying Fireman) and Robert 'Paddy' Moore. The mission was completed on behalf of the BC Forest Service.
Probable cause:
Misjudgement of altitude on part of the flying crew.
Final Report:
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