Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Yarmouth on a navigation exercise. Due to the inexperience of the pilot, it landed short distance from shore (St Margarets Bay) and sank. All four crew members were seriously injured.
Crew:
P/O J. M. McQueen, pilot,
P/O G. W. H. Charles, navigator,
Sgt W. R. MacDonald, wireless operator,
Sgt R. H. McKay, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Error in judgement of pilot in that he mistook local weather conditions to be general and with ample fuel for four hours failed to examine or confirm by flight to or radio the weather at alternate landing fields. In this case, weather at four alternative landing fields within easy range, Moncton, Debert, Dartmouth and Yarmouth, was good. Reduced visibility at nightfall was a contributing factor.

Final Report:

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near North Battleford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1941 at 1115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

AS490

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Battleford – North Battleford

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

170

Captain / Total hours on type:

51.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed North Battleford on a training exercise. The airplane was flying low and made a very steep bank to the right, as a result of which wither it stalled and nosed into the ground or the pilot over-corrected when levelling out and touched ground with the port wing and so caused the aircraft to crash some 12 miles south of North Battleford. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl F. A. Mitchell, pilot,
Cpl T. E. E. Leahy, pilot.

Probable cause:

Deliberate unauthorized low flying.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Dartmouth

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1941 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

777

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dartmouth - Dartmouth

MSN:

414-1781

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

329

Captain / Total hours on type:

329.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a navigation exercise at RCAF Dartmouth, carrying four crew members. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swung and ground looped, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The airplane came to halt, caught fire and exploded. All four crew members were seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt D. F. Quirt, pilot,
P/O P. W. Porter, navigator,
LAC G. C. Merrill, wireless operator,
P/O F. H. Lashley, navigator.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined as the results of the Court of inquiry was not received.

Final Report:

Ground fire of a Lockheed 10 Electra in Mountain View

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1941 at 1435 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

7652

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mountain View - Mountain View

MSN:

1001

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1044

Captain / Total hours on type:

29.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local instructional flight at RCAF Mountain View, Ontario. While completing landing circuits, it caught fire in the air. During the approach, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the cabin, and after landing taxied off the runway, shut off the engines and investigated for the cause of the smoke. Flames broke out anew which could not be extinguished. There were no injuries among the crew but the airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Sgt K. A. Carte, pilot,
P/O L. I. Armstrong, pilot.
Passengers:
P/O J. H. Young,
Sgt C. J. Faulkes.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire for reasons that could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Shearwater

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1941 at 0605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

773

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Shearwater - Shearwater

MSN:

414-1772

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

311

Copilot / Total flying hours:

Circumstances:

When the tail came up on takeoff, the starboard wing went down. 200 yards short of the end of the runway, the pilot closed the throttles and uses brake. At this time, the aircraft was travelling at a speed of 60-70 knots. The aircraft hit a ditch with its port wing that was crumpled and came to rest, bursting into flames. The fire extinguisher was used with no effect. All four crew members evacuated safely, among them two were slightly injured. The aircraft blew up.
Crew:
Sgt D. F. Quirt, pilot,
Sgt D. E. McInnis, navigator,
LAC G. C. Merrill, wireless operator,
Sgt H. F. Taylor, air gunner.

Final Report:

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near North Battleford

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1941 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

AS186

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Battleford – North Battleford

MSN:

3532

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

Captain / Total hours on type:

26.00

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed North Battleford Airport on a local solo training exercise. While circling north of the airfield, the airplane collided with a second RCAF Oxford registered AS550 and carrying two pilots. Both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed eight km north of North Battleford Airport. Both airplanes were destroyed and both crew members on board AS550 were killed while the pilot of AS186 was slightly injured.
Crew:
LAC M. R. Hall, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilots failed to keep a proper lookout for other aircraft in the vicinity.

Final Report:

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near North Battleford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1941 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

AS550

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Battleford – North Battleford

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

361

Captain / Total hours on type:

283.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed North Battleford Airport on a local training exercise with two pilots on board. While circling north of the airfield, it collided with a second RCAF Oxford registered AS186 and carrying one pilot. Both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed eight km north of North Battleford Airport. Both airplanes were destroyed and both crew members on board AS550 were killed while the pilot of AS186 was slightly injured.
Crew:
P/O D. H. Hodgkinson, pilot,
LAC B. Evans, pilot.

Probable cause:

The pilots failed to keep a proper lookout for other aircraft in the vicinity.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Yale: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941 at 1720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N9818

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

McLeod – Patricia Bay

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed McLeod on a ferry flight to Patricia Bay (Victoria) on behalf of the Western Air Command. While cruising northwest of Yale, BC, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (32th OTU):
P/O L. W. Brooks, pilot,
Sgt L.P. Bretland,
D. B. Hartley.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Fort Benton

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

6059

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Claresholm – Manyberries

Location:

Fort Benton

Montana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

102

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

895

Circumstances:

The crew departed Claresholm Airport on a navigation exercise to Manyberries, southeast Alberta. On the return leg, the crew got lost. As the airplane ran out of fuel at dusk over hilly country, the crew abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed near Fort Benton, Montana. Both crew members were slightly injured.
Crew:
LAC J. D. Warbritton, pilot,
LAC T. D. Kelley, pilot.

Probable cause:

The crew became lost due to incorrect methods of pilot navigation.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Kisbey

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1941 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

6450

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rivers - Rivers

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

575

Captain / Total hours on type:

90.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Rivers AFB on a navigation training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the airplane flew into heavy rain and went into a spin. The pilot recovered control at low altitude but the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located near Kisbey. Two crew members were injured and three others escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt C. K. Gilbert,
F/L R. D. Christie,
Sgt L. J. Skippen,
Sgt J. M. Fraser,
AC1 A. J. Wilson.

Probable cause:

Unauthorized pilot (officer) took over controls from the Sergaent Pilot (Captain) of the airplane. Sgt Gilbert should be absolved of the blame because he was under the impression that F/Lt Christie was a qualified pilot and as a F/Lt had more experience than himself.

Final Report:

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