Ontario | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Big Trout Lake Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck an NDB tower and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while nine other occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.

Ground fire of an Avro 748-259-2A in Moosonee

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1979 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

C-GPAA

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1675

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was loaded with two rubber cargo bladders, filled with 1600 Imp gallons of aviation gasoline. The aircraft was parked overnight, until at 05:40 the 2 crew members arrived to perform the pre-departure checks. A smell of Avgas fumes was detectable, but not stronger than on similar trips. The engines were started, and when the no. 1 engine reached idle rpm, the crew proceeded with after-start checks. When both alternators and the left generator were turned on, a violent explosion occurred in the cabin. The nose gear collapsed and the rear airstair was blown off. Both pilots managed to escape before a fierce fire consumed the aircraft.

Probable cause:

The reason for the accumulation and ignition of the vapours could no longer be definitely determined because of the complete destruction of the aircraft. However, the fact that the explosion occurred during the after-start check as electrical equipment was being turned on suggests equipment in the underfloor electrical bay as a probable source of ignition. Although such equipment is designed to be flameproof, the aircraft had an extensive repair history during which this protection may have been lost.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in North Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

C-FAUK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to North Bay Airport by night, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 1,6 km short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Potter Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1978

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Lindberghs Hunt & Fish Air

Registration:

C-FLUB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1324

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane was returning to its base in Cochrane, carrying one pilot and two passengers flying back from a hunting camp. While cruising at low level so that the passengers could take pictures, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near Potter Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that a moose was spotted and a steep turn was initiated. During the turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that went in a steep nose down and inverted attitude. It was reported that the aircraft did not have a ventral fin installed and this was not a legal requirement. The fin makes a float equipped aircraft much more directionally stable.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Toronto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1978 at 0808 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

CF-TLV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ottawa - Toronto - Winnipeg - Vancouver

MSN:

47197

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

AC189

Location:

Toronto-Lester Bowles Pearson

Ontario

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

102

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

25476

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 23L, at a speed of 145 knots, the crew heard a thumping noise and felt vibrations. In a meantime, the right engine power dropped and a warning light coupled to the right main gear illuminated. The copilot informed the captain about the fact that the right main gear was unsafe. At a speed of 149 knots, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. He deployed the spoilers and activated the thrust reversers systems. The airplane was unable to stop within the 1,219 meters remaining, overran at a speed of 70 knots, rolled on a distance of 139 meters then went down a 15 meters high embankment and eventually came to rest, broken in three. Two passengers were killed while 55 others were injured and 50 unhurt.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the tire n°3 located on the right main gear burst during takeoff, probably due to wear. Few rubber debris damaged various elements of the main gear while other rubber debris were thrown into the right engine, causing it to lose power and the thrust reverser system to malfunction. The decision of the captain to abandon the takeoff procedure was correct but taken too late, more than four seconds after the warning light illuminated in the cockpit. A lack of crew training in emergency situations and a lack of increased monitoring of tire wear were considered as contributing factors. It was also determined that a period of 65,7 seconds elapsed between the brake release and the immobilization of the aircraft.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker into Whitewater Lake

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

12179

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Bay - Winnipeg

MSN:

DH78

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from North Bay to Winnipeg, the aircraft was ditched into Whitewater Lake, about 11 km northwest of Sudbury. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Rausch Super 18 Hudstar in Oshawa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1977 at 0345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rausch Super 18 Hudstar

Operator:

Northern Flying Service

Registration:

N367

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oshawa - Detroit

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after a night takeoff from Oshawa Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed. They were en route to Detroit-Wayne County Airport with automobile parts on board. The Rausch Super 18 was a Lockheed AT-18 Hudson NC33367 (msn 7463) with a Lodestar N94538 (msn 18-2095) rear fuselage and tail group.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Pickle Lake

Date & Time: May 12, 1977

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Patricia Air Transport

Registration:

C-GEZT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

903

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following the crash of a Patricia Air Transport DC-3 at Pickle Lake earlier that day, the operator dispatched a Beaver with a passenger and a pilot on an ambulance mission. While approaching Pickle Lake, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed under unknown circumstances into Pickle Lake about 5 km off the airfield. Both occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Pickle Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Patricia Air Transport

Registration:

C-FBKV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

4441

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Pickle Lake Airport, an engine caught fire. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed 5 km from the airfield. A pilot was seriously injured while the second occupant was killed. The crew was completing a cargo flight on behalf of Ontario Central Airlines.

Probable cause:

Engine fire after takeoff for unknown reasons.