Country
Canada

Crash of a Canadair C-4M1 North Star at RAF North Luffenham

Date & Time: May 8, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
17522
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
106
YOM:
1947
Location:
North Luffenham AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF North Luffenham, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit an embankment located about 75 feet short of runway threshold. On impact, the main landing gear were pushed up and punctured the fuel tank. Upon landing, the airplane sank on its belly and came to rest few dozen yards farther. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Canadair C-4M North Star in Moose Jaw: 36 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1954 at 1003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TFW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Winnipeg – Vancouver
MSN:
150
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
TCA223
Location:
Moose Jaw
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 under IFR rules, the four engine aircraft collided with a RCAF North American T-6 Harvard registered 3309. Sole on board, the pilote just took off from Moose Jaw Airfield for a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and dove into the ground. The Harvard crash on a golf course while the North Star crashed onto a house located in the suburb of Moose Jaw. The pilot of the Harvard was killed as well as all 35 occupants on board the TCAL aircraft and one people inside the house.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the following factors:
- Failure on the part of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain a proper lookout, the onus of responsibility for keeping out of the way being with the Harvard aircraft as it had the other on its own right side.
- The Harvard aircraft in crossing the airway climbed through altitudes normally used by aircraft flying along the airway.
- The Board up to the present has been unable to determine whether the window post on the left side of the Canadair C4-1 aircraft hid the Harvard aircraft from view, but there are indications that this was possible.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair C-54GM North Star in Vancouver

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
17503
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vancouver – Edmonton – Montreal
MSN:
110
YOM:
1947
Location:
Vancouver
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a flight from Vancouver to Montreal with an intermediate stop in Edmonton on behalf of the 426th Transport Squadron. On the leg from Vancouver to Edmonton, the crew encountered icing conditions when an engine failed. The captain decided to return to Vancouver for a safe landing when on approach, he encountered poor weather with rains falls and icing conditions. On final, the aircraft banked left and right, causing the right wing to hit the runway surface. On impact, the right wing was sheared off and the aircraft went out of control and came upside down. It then slid for dozen yards before coming to rest at the edge of a ditch. All 51 occupants were miraculously evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Canadair C-54GM North Star in Shemya

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
17505
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
112
YOM:
1947
Location:
Shemya
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Canada to South Korea with an intermediate stop in Shemya, Aleutian Islands, taking part to the Korean airlift. After touchdown at Shemya Airport, the four engine aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the landing was completed with crosswinds gusting up to 50 knots, which caused the aircraft to veer off runway.

Crash of a Canadair C-4GM North Star in Resolute Bay

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
17523
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
107
YOM:
1947
Location:
Resolute 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:
During the takeoff roll on an icy runway, the four engine aircraft started to swing. The pilot in command ordered 'pull it off' and rotated while the flight engineer misunderstood this message and closed the throttles at same time. The aircraft crashed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.
Probable cause:
Poor crew coordination and misunderstanding on part of the flight engineer during the takeoff procedure.

Crash of a Canadair C-4 North Star in Tokyo

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
CF-CPR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vancouver – Tokyo
MSN:
148
YOM:
1949
Location:
Tokyo-Haneda
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown in Haneda Airport, the four engine aircraft christened 'Empress of Vancouver' encountered difficulties to stop. It overran and eventually plunged into the bay of Tokyo. All 15 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

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

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TEL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Montreal – Sydney – Prestwick – London
MSN:
103
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
TCA185
Location:
Sydney
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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.
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