Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in Kentville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
KB966
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Greenwood - Greenwood
MSN:
37267
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while returning to Greenwood Airbase following a reconnaissance mission. Six of the seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Eric Travers Lewis, †
F/O Douglas Alan Hamilton, †
F/O John Dane Curzon, †
Sgt Neil McCarrol, †
LAC William Douglas Fifield, †
AC1 George Patrick Sylvester Shoul, †
F/O K. Benson.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D near Sydney

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
43-49226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15042/26487
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Weather conditions deteriorated in flight and the crew lost his orientation. Due to fuel exhaustion, all 18 occupants decided to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a remote area. All 18 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009A in Sydney

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1950 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-ILE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zurich – Geneva – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
43073
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Gander in poor weather conditions, ATC instructed the crew to divert to Sydney, Nova Scotia. On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit three approach lights. Immediately, the pilot in command increased power but as both left engines were damaged by obstacle impact, they failed to respond properly. As a result, the left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway. All 31 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and the crew extinguished the fire. Unfortunately, thirty minutes later, another fire erupted on the left side of the aircraft, partially destroying the airplane. Carrying 2,5 tons of cargo, the aircraft christened 'Zürich' was performing a regular schedule flight from Zurich to New York via Geneva, Shannon and Gander.
Probable cause:
The impact of the aircraft with the ground while out of control due to failure on the part of the captain to maintain sufficient height to clear the approach light poles, three of which were struck by the aircraft. After striking the approach light poles, the captain and first officer were unable to maintain control of the aircraft due to the malfunctioning of numbers 1 and 2 engines and structural damage to the left wing and flap.

Crash of a Canadair DC-4M1 North Star in Sydney

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TEL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montreal – Sydney – Prestwick – London
MSN:
103
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
TCA185
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sydney, the aircraft was too low and hit an earth mound short of the runway threshold. On impact, an undercarriage punctured a fuel tank and a fire erupted. The aircraft landed safely but came to rest in flames and was damaged beyond repair. All 17 occupants were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 near Sydney: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
39093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
19064
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the region of Sydney. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso A near Shearwater: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1943 at 0557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9789
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
22018
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1065
Captain / Total hours on type:
84.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
536
Copilot / Total hours on type:
241
Circumstances:
The crew was briefing at 0500 hrs, started engines at 0540 and started the takeoff run at 0552. The aircraft take off weight was 33,426 lbs which was near the maximum allowable takeoff weight of 34,500. The aircraft became airborne after an abnormally long run and circled the area while climbing to 700’. As the direct route to the patrol area, Seaforth Channel, was closed by weather PO Joseph headed south via the west side of Lama Passage. The ceiling lowered so he descended to stay under the cloud. Suddenly the fog closed in and Joseph turned the aircraft to the left attempting to return to Base on a reciprocal course. His airspeed was 120 knots but altitude could not be maintained in the 35 degree turn like he used to do in a Stranraer. The aircraft was leveled off after turning through 120 degrees as they were getting close to the water. The aircraft was put into a steep climbing position at full power. They had started climbing in the patchy fog when the pilot saw a wooded ridge. They increased the rate of climb and the speed dropped to 70 knots and was down to 50 knots by the time they mushed into the 700’ mark on an 800’ ridge. On impact the a/c caught fire. They had been airborne a total of five minutes.
Crew:
P/O J. A. Joseph, pilot,
F/Sgt K. L. Brown, copilot,
P/O J. L. Jones, navigator,
F/O R. B. Shirra, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt H. A. S. Rawlinson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt E. A. Kershsaw,
Sgt J. A. Cowman, flight engineer, †
LAC W. J. Johnston, flight engineer.
Source: http://www.101nisquadron.org/?page_id=1539
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was assessed as pilot error because of an inability through the lack of experience on the type of aircraft, the pilot was unable to control the aircraft during the turn and was obliged to straighten out. He then realized the presence of hills ahead and attempted to clear them by climbing but was unable to. It would have been advisable to have landed straight ahead when he encountered the fog or to have climbed to 2,000’ and then proceeded to sea rather than attempting a turn at low altitude in a narrow channel with a heavily laden aircraft.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Summerville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1943 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE186
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pennfield Ridge - Pennfield Ridge
MSN:
4324
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Pennfield Ridge AFB, New Brunswick, at 1237LT for a training mission. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Summerville, Nova Scotia. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O G. W. Cowie, pilot,
P/O C. A. Griffiths, navigator 2.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Springhaven: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1943 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE878
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yarmouth - Yarmouth
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a training mission from Yarmouth, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Springhaven, 25 km east of Yarmouth. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three crew members were killed.
Crew (34th OTU):
Sgt Kenneth George Calvert, pilot,
Sgt John Edward Franckeiss, pilot,
Sgt Keith Robert Self, pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Yarmouth: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BW620
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6299
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crew was engaged in an operational survey flight. The Hudson crashed in unknown circumstances near Yarmouth, killing all six on board.
Crew:
C. L. Tripp 5.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II off Port Maitland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1943 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ173
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4311
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
326
Captain / Total hours on type:
81.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight off the west coast of Nova Scotia. En route, the twin engine aircraft disappeared and crashed in the Gulf of Maine, off Port Maitland. Some debris were found three days later but no trace of the four occupants.
Crew (34th OTU):
P/O Thomas Anthony Corr, pilot,
P/O Fintan Howard Lalor, navigator,
F/S David Armstrong Cannon, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passenger:
O/S Ronald Herbert Faulkner.
Source:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b3Accident_MishapReports.htm
Probable cause:
No evidence to determiner the cause of the crash.