Debert | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Debert on a low level bombing and air to ground firing exercise. While flying at low height, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after the engines experienced carburetor icing and a complete loss of power. The airplane was ditched in the Cobequid Bay and sank. All four crew members were slightly injured.
Crew:
Sgt G. D. Bain, pilot,
Sgt M. B. Foster, observer,
Sgt W. C. Dickson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt E. S. Brown, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Nova Scotia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM765

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Schedule:

Debert - Debert

MSN:

414-2847

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Debert Airfield on a night cross country exercise. The airplane apparently completed the exercise and flew within 32 km of base. It failed to return to base and was lost without trace. Believed to have crashed somewhere in Nova Scotia. All four crew members were presumed dead.
Crew:
P/O Raymond Albert Clarke, pilot,
Sgt James McLean Johnson, observer,
P/O James Alfred Hackett, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Donald Roderick Lagimodiere, wireless operator and air gunner.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Folly Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1942 at 1955 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM721

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Debert - Debert

MSN:

414-2803

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

42.00

Circumstances:

The airplane was seen above Folly Lake in a drizzling rain, at an altitude of about 100 feet. It continued on its course towards base and encountered a fairly heavy rain at the end of the lake. Flying just over the tree tops, the aircraft crashed and burned. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Traquair Creighton,
Sgt N. D. King,
Sgt D. H. Lennon.

Probable cause:

The pilot flew the aircraft too low in bad weather conditions and crashed into high land a the end of Folly Lake. The pilot with limited experience on type was endeavoring to return to base, flying contact in bad visibility and stalled when he attempted to climb his aircraft to avoid rising ground.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Tupper Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1941 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM886

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Debert - Montreal - Kingston - Debert

MSN:

414-2968

YOM:

1941

Location:

Tupper Lake

New York

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

152

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Debert Airfield on a final cross country training flight. After a stop at Montreal-Dorval, Quebec, and Kingston Airport, Ontario, the crew was returning to base at Debert when he encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a marshy field located in Tupper Lake. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of:
- The pilot stalled the aircraft at a low altitude causing the commencement of a spin which resulted in the aircraft striking the water and crashing.
- The pilot became lost in bad weather and in attempting to pinpoint his position or seek a place on which to land he inadvertently stalled the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Montreal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM895

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Debert - Debert

MSN:

414-2977

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

248

Captain / Total hours on type:

73.00

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 31st Operational Training Unit and was on the final of a long distance exercise. While returning to Debert Airport, Nova Scotia, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and the pilot decided to divert to Montreal-Dorval Airport. On approach, he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a barn located in Cartierville, some 6 km north of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed by fire and all four occupants were killed.
Crew (31st OTU):
P/O John Fisher Boyd, pilot,
P/O Alan Ewart Gilbert Wainwright, navigator,
Sgt Abie Kirsch, wireless operator.
Passenger:
LAC A. J. Morris.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot being forced to fly at a low altitude due to adverse weather conditions while attempting to approach the Dorval Airport, failed to see the barn and crashed onto it. Or that the pilot stalled the aircraft, commenced a spin and crashed into the barn.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in Great Village: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM896

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Debert - Debert

MSN:

414-2978

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

233

Captain / Total hours on type:

42.00

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a final long distance exercise prior to an Atlantic ferry flight to UK. The twin engine airplane was on approach to Debert Airfield when it went out of control and disintegrated in a field located in Great Village, some 10 km west of Debert. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (31st OTU):
P/O Charles Beeching O'Hanley, pilot,
P/O Richard Aubrey Luard, navigator,
Sgt Robert Frederick Kelly, wireless operator,
Sgt Norman Leonard Hornsey.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report: