Country
Canada

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK on Somerset Island

Date & Time: May 13, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-BZI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13448
YOM:
1944
Location:
Somerset Island
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Somerset Island was completed in whiteout conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the left ski struck the ground about 150 feet short of runway threshold. The left ski dug into the snow and was torn off, causing the airplane to crash. While both pilots were unhurt, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair and later convoyed to the Calgary Air Museum.
Probable cause:
The crew attempted to land in below-minima visibility due to whiteout conditions.

Crash of a Fairchild F27J in Resolute Bay

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GND
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yellowknife – Sherrard Bay
MSN:
113
YOM:
1965
Location:
Resolute Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Yellowknife Airport on a schedule flight to Sherrard Bay, on Melville Island. En route, he was informed that a landing at Sherrard Bay Airstrip was impossible due to strong winds and was rerouted to Resolute Bay. On final, both engines failed and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed few km south of the airfield, slid for several yards and came to rest, broken in two. All 12 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46T Commando in Cape Dyer: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-NAD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30200
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cape Dyer
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The approach to Cape Dyer Station was attempted in whiteout conditions. On final, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed some 1,4 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flight planning on part of the flying crew. Whiteout conditions at destination was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Parson's Airways
Registration:
CF-HZR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
843
YOM:
1945
Location:
Frobisher Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 110 km northwest of Frobisher Bay. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Canadair C-4 North Star in Hall Beach

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1962 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
17520
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hall Beach - Hall Beach
MSN:
104
YOM:
1947
Location:
Hall Beach (Sanirajak)
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hall Beach Airport in Sanirajak, the hydraulic pressure failed on engine number four. The captain elected to return to Hall Beach when the oil pressure failed as well on engines number two and three. The crew realized that it would be impossible to reach the airport so the captain decided to make an emergency landing north of the airfield. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest in a snow covered terrain located few km from runway 36 threshold. While all 21 occupants were unhurt, among them Governor General of Canada Raymond Massey, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was involved in a special mission over the North Pole.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic pressure on engine two, three and four. Improper engine warm up had lead to internal damage on all engines, resulting in gradual loss of oil pressure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Arctic Bay

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IQF
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6101
YOM:
1942
Location:
Arctic Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Arctic Bay. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando at Sarcpa Lake

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1961 at 1402 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HEI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22419
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sarcpa Lake
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Sarcpa Lake, the twin engine aircraft was too low and struck the ground. The undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All nine occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
During the final approach, the pilot-in-command allowed the aircraft to strike the ground short of the approach end of the runway and below the runway level.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Pelly Bay

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IHQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
448
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pelly Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Pelly Bay, the airplane was too low and struck the ground few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude and the aircraft struck the ground while on the downwind leg of a circuit to land.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman on Nottingham Island

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-OBI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Coral Harbour - Nottingham Island
MSN:
N29-3
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nottingham Island
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was on its way from Coral Harbour to Nottingham Island with three passengers and one pilot on board. While approaching Nottingham Island, weather conditions worsened and as the pilot was unable to locate the destination, he reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed. All four occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned in situ.
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