Crash of a Fairchild 71 into the Anderson Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1933 at 2024 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Wells Air Transport
Registration:
CF-AJP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Vancouver – Bridge River
MSN:
651
YOM:
1929
Location:
Anderson Lake
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Vancouver to Bridge River, the pilot encountered poor visibility while flying at night. Too low, the airplane impacted the surface of Lake Anderson and crashed. Three passengers were killed and three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot departed Vancouver too late with only 20 minutes of daylight remaining while the flight to Bridge River should take one hour and 15 minutes. Any flights above mountainous area after dark were prohibited and the pilot failed to follow this procedure.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Moose Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Spencer-McDonough Air Transport
Registration:
CF-AKZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
684
YOM:
1929
Location:
Moose Lake
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a taxi flight to Winnipeg, carrying three passengers and two crew members, among them an RCMP Police Officer and his prisoner. A blizzard and an early twilight forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. Upon landing on the frozen Moose Lake, one wing was ripped from the airplane that dashed madly on to destruction. The pilot William Spencer, owner of the Company, was killed while all four other occupants were injured.
Crew:
William A. Spencer, pilot, †
W. L. Cooke, mechanic.
Passengers:
Cpl P. Greaves, RCMP Police Officer,
John Robinson, prospector,
Buster Whiteway, prisoner.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Arrow Lake

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Registration:
CF-AHC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
665
YOM:
1929
Location:
Arrow Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Arrow Lake, while climbing, the float plane suffered an engine failure, crashed and sank. The occupant fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 near Greenville

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Registration:
CF-AAX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint John – Montreal
MSN:
609
YOM:
1929
Location:
Greenville
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from St John to Montreal, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing in a field located six miles east from Greenville, Maine. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while both crew were able to walk away for few miles before finding help.
Crew:
'Babe' Woollett, pilot,
Al Parker, mechanic.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine failed in flight due to a technical problem with the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Lac-à-la-Tortue

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Quebec & Eastern Aviation
Registration:
CF-AEU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
653
YOM:
1929
Location:
Lac-à-la-Tortue
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair upon landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Jersey City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1930 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Registration:
NC9148
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Montreal – Newark
MSN:
634
YOM:
1929
Location:
Jersey City
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Newark Airport, the pilot was hampered by the lack of visibility caused by the presence of fog. He decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit power cables and crashed in Jersey City. All four occupants were killed, among them the French Aviator and Explorator Henry De La Vaux. He was completing a tour on behalf of the International Aeronautical Federation.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Amston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1930 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Farmingdale - Farmingdale
Location:
Amston
Connecticut
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Farmingdale-Republic Airport in the morning on a local test flight. While flying at low height in a visibility reduced by foggy conditions, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Amston. The wreckage was found five days later. Both occupants Daniel Marra and William Kirkpatrick were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Moncton

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
International Airways of Canada
Registration:
CF-AHA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
677
YOM:
1929
Location:
Moncton
New Brunswick
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed upon takeoff for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild 71 in Jacumba: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tijuana – Nogales
Location:
Jacumba
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Tijuana to Nogales, the pilot encountered heavy rain falls and attempted to make an emergency landing in Jacumba. Upon landing, the aircraft impacted a tree and crashed. The pilot Russell F. Hall was injured and the passenger Jose Lavin was killed.
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