Wheeler Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On a flight from Payne Bay to Fort Chimo, weather conditions worsened and the pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed 100 km south of Fort Chimo and came to rest upside down in snow. The pilot and two passengers were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Despite the situation, the pilot and a passenger decided to leave the crash site and to walk to Fort Chimo where they arrived two weeks later on January 27. SAR teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site where the six remaining occupants were evacuated.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman at Campbell Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

CF-FOJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

N29-32

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Campbell Lake, while climbing, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The pilot and two passengers were killed while a third passenger was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb caused by the failure of the engine.

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 in Oskélanéo

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

CF-BHY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

N29-6

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Oskélanéo, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. While trying to land, the single engine aircraft struck a railway bridge and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all occupants were injured and rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Saint-Cléophas-de-Brandon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1959 at 2307 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

CF-ILI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Montreal – Hall Beach

MSN:

10360

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

WH1658

Location:

Saint-Cléophas-de-Brandon

Quebec

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

30357

Circumstances:

Flight 1658 took off from Montreal-Dorval runway 10 at 2244LT on a cargo flight to Hall Beach, NWT. Following takeoff the aircraft continued runway heading and climbed to 6,000 feet. Course was then changed and the aircraft climbed to the assigned altitude of 9,000 feet, reaching this altitude at 2259LT. Some 3 and a half minutes later the crew reported that they were in an emergency descent because of a no. 2 engine fire. Last radio contact was at 2307LT when the crew reported that the plane had lost its left wing and "was in a spin and going straight in". The DC-4 broke up in midair, causing wreckage to cover a 1,25 x 0,75 mile area. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

A fire of undetermined origin started in no.2 engine nacelle during the climb and developed to the stage where fire extinguishing equipment was inadequate to extinguish it. The following are considered to be primary contributing factors:
- The deteriorated condition of the exhaust collector ring,
- The probable deteriorated condition of the flexible wire braid hose assemblies,
- The probable use of high power during the climb,
- The possible failure of the fire detection and warning system to inform the pilot of the existence of a fire before it had penetrated the firewall and ignited the fuel feed system and oil tank to the rear of no.2 engine. During the rapid letdown, stresses were imposed on the weekened left wing by manoeuvre and/or gusts which were sufficient to sever the left wing spar. No subsequent action by the pilot could have brought the aircraft safely to the ground; neither was it possible to determine what effect a less rapid letdown would have had.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Newfoundland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

CF-IHP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fox Harbour – Goose Bay

MSN:

345

YOM:

1944

Location:

Newfoundland

Newfoundland & Labrador

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a flight from Fox Harbour to Goose Bay. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor both occupant was ever found.