Country
Canada

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranraer in Ucluelet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers Stranraer
Operator:
Registration:
928
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ucluelet - Ucluelet
MSN:
CV-214
YOM:
1941
Location:
Ucluelet
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to base at Ucluelet following a patrol operation with only one engine operating. As it could not maintain height, it crashed in a dense wooded area located half a mile south of the airbase, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and four others were slightly injured.
Crew:
F/O Robert Jamieson Gray, pilot, †
Sgt Martin Neil McKay, copilot, †
P/O Albert Cecil Scruton, navigator, †
Cpl Willard John Zenkie, radio operator, †
Cpl G. Atkinson, radio operator,
Sgt L. A. Davies, wireless operator,
Sgt A. G. Gordon, wireless operator,
Sgt F. A. Rogers, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons. Error in judgment of pilot in not flying at a great enough height over land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranraer off Nanoose Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers Stranraer
Operator:
Registration:
927
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Patricia Bay - Patricia Bay
MSN:
CV-213
YOM:
1941
Location:
Nanoose Bay
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
646
Captain / Total hours on type:
55.00
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed Patricia Bay on a reconnaissance patrol mission. The pilot apparently endeavored to effect a landing on exceeding water off Nanoose Bay. The left wing tip apparently dropped and came in contact with a large wave causing the aircraft to slew violently to the left and force the nose into the water crashing the forward part of the hull and breaking all cockpit windows. The aircraft then sank nose first in approximately four minutes. Wing tip and tailplane only visible during this period of time. All eight crew members were killed and the body of the pilot was found four days later.
Crew:
F/Lt Donald Clark MacDougall, pilot,
Sgt Gordon Herbert Andrews, pilot,
Sgt Russell Tremaine Mitchell, navigator,
AC1 Robert William Adams, observer,
LAC William Dennis Riley, observer,
AC1 Robert Albert Blakely, wireless operator,
Sgt John Cunningham Gunn, wireless operator,
P/O Richard Wood, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Heavy landing in extremely rough water during a gale. The pilot endeavored to land on water which was much too rough to land any aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranrear on Mt Baldwin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1941 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers Stranraer
Operator:
Registration:
946
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dartmouth – Penticton – Patricia Bay
MSN:
CV-225
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Baldwin
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to Patricia Bay, British Columbia, with an intermediate stop in Penticton. The seaplane departed Penticton seaplane base at 1026LT. Few minutes after his departure, the radio operator informed ground about his ETA in Patricia Bay at 1300LT. At 1400LT, the crew changed his frequency and informed ground about his position north of Vancouver, flying in very bad weather conditions with snow falls. As the airplane failed to arrive in Patricia Bay, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Six years later, walkers found the wreckage on Mt Baldwin (1,427 metres high) located 10 km southeast of Squamish. It appears that the aircraft hit the mountain 10 metres below the summit. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (5th Squadron):
P/O Gerald Searing Palmer, pilot,
Sgt Jack Fenton Bliss,
Cpl John Robert Bruce Fernie,
LAC Gilbert Fowler Willette,
LAC Charles Murray Ross.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot got lost while cruising on instruments and in heavy static.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bellanca 31-55 Senior Skyrocket on Salal Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket
Operator:
Livingston Wernecke
Registration:
NC14701
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hyder - Alert Bay
MSN:
807
YOM:
1934
Location:
Salal Island
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was flying from Hyder to Alert Bay when the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. Too low, the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Salal Island, BC. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed, among them Livingston Wernecke, explorer, scientist, and mine executive, who was returning from an investigation of the Riverside Tungsten mine near Hyder, Alaska.
Crew:
Charles Gropstis, pilot.
Passenger:
Livingston Wernecke.

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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McLeod – Patricia Bay
Location:
Yale
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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 a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Chilliwack

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
R. Wells
Registration:
CF-AGJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1349
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chilliwack
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the single engine aircraft went out of control and came to rest upside down. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Nanaimo

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Ginger Coote Airways
Registration:
CF-AZE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vancouver – Zeballos
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Location:
Nanaimo
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Vancouver to Zeballos, the engine caught fire. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the single engine aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. All four occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Windermere

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Radium Hot Springs Flying Service
Registration:
CF-AGK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1343
YOM:
1929
Location:
Windermere
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Windermere, south of Radium Hot Springs. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problem.

Crash of a Fokker Universal in Fort Saint John

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Universal
Operator:
United Air Transport
Registration:
G-CAFU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
404
YOM:
1926
Location:
Fort Saint John
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Fort Saint John-Charly Lake, while on initial climb, the pilot initiated a turn when the seaplane stalled and crashed. The aircraft was lost and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Disappointment Inlet

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Super Universal
Operator:
Registration:
G-CASQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
824
YOM:
1929
Location:
Disappointment Inlet
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, weather conditions worsened and the pilot decided to attempt an emergency landing. In snow falls, the aircraft hit the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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