Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Hall Beach

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HZI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22387
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Hall Beach Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Pelly Bay

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1956 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9995F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22409
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night VFR approach to Pelly Bay Airport, NWT, when the left wing struck the ground. The airplane crashed in a rocky area located few km short of runway and was destroyed. All three occupants were injured and evacuated.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M off Frobisher Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FZU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
13136
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Frobisher Bay Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went into a nose-up attitude, stalled and crashed into the sea. All three crew members who were performing a cargo flight were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cargo was wrongly secured and shifted after rotation, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Hall Beach

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HTP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19140
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Hall Beach aerodrome for unclear circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Coral Harbour: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HVJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Coral Harbour – Rankin Inlet – Churchill – Winnipeg
MSN:
30222
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II in Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
52-0991
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Churchill - Frobisher Bay
MSN:
43900
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Frobisher Bay Airport (Iqaluit), the four engine aircraft dipped below the level of the runway, then get the correct level. It almost made it but the landing gear caught on the very end of the runway and the plane did a cartwheel which tore off the starboard wing. The nose did not touch the runway, but the entire plane flipped over, broke up into many pieces and caught fire. All five crew members were seriously injured and evacuated to Goose Bay. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The engine number one continued to function for a day or so before the decision was made to shut off the fuel supply. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Churchill, carrying a load of Snow Cats (Bombardier Snowmobiles).
Source & photos: Ray White

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 at Hall Lake

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HMX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
MW167
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Hall Lake, the four engine aircraft hit a snow bank and came to rest, broken in two. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned in situ.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2B Privateer near Grise Fiord: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
59925
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Thule - Thule
MSN:
59925
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a survey flight of the iced continent, the crew encountered white conditions when the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Grise Fiord. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Kaminuriak Lake

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HCG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
245
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed in flight and oil spilled on the windscreen. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing near Kaminuriak Lake. On touchdown, the single engine airplane hit rocks and came to rest. All five occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B Dakota III in Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: May 6, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
980
Flight Type:
MSN:
15199/26644
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Frobisher Bay, NWT (now Iqaluit, Nunavut).