Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Goose Bay

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16287
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20753
YOM:
1944
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff in poor weather conditions. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-30-BO Superfortress near Goose Bay

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
47-105
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Davis-Monthan
MSN:
15789
YOM:
1947
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
One hour after departure from Goose Bay bound for Davis-Monthan AFB, the carburetor of the engine number 2 suffered icing and the engine failed. The captain decided to return to Goose Bay for a safe landing when the same engine caught fire shortly later. As the crew was trying to extinguish the fire, the engine number four caught fire as well. In such conditions, the captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft. After all 16 crew members bailed out, the aircraft continued a while to the east and eventually crashed in a wooded area located about 94 miles east of Goose Bay. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants were later rescued and evacuated.
Probable cause:
Carburetor icing, engine failure and engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Goose Bay: 23 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1947 at 0020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72572
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Westover
MSN:
10677
YOM:
1945
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
One minute after a night takeoff from Goose Bay, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered serious difficulties to gain height, informed ground and elected to return. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 13,5 km north of the airport. Six occupants were seriously injured while 23 others were killed.
Probable cause:
It was snowing in Goose Bay when the crew made his technical stop. For unknown reason, the crew failed to request for a deice operation prior to departure and the takeoff procedure was started with 12 mm of snow on both wings and stabs. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient height after liftoff due to heavy weight, too much drag and loss of lift.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV in Goose Bay

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
986
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15933/32681
YOM:
1945
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-32-3 Liberator II in Goose Bay

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AL597
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Goose Bay Airport, the aircraft hit a snowdrift and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 Dakota IV in Goose Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ986
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Montreal – Goose Bay
MSN:
14980/26425
YOM:
1944
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a delivery flight from the US to England. On the leg from Montreal-Dorval to Goose Bay, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances on approach to Goose Bay Airport. The wreckage was found 12 miles from the airfield. All four crew members have been killed.
Crew:
F/O Trevor L. Morris,
F/O Archie Whitelaw,
F/O Thomas V. Woods,
R/O D. M. McLaughlin.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Goose Bay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
2171
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dartmouth – Goose Bay – Chatham
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from Dartmouth to Chatham (Miramichi Airport) with an intermediate stop in Goose Bay. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All eleven occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O William A. Harris,
P/O John C. Tanner.
Passengers:
Lac Harold A. Stephenson,
Lac Henry H. Bell,
Lac William G. Leard,
A/C Lionel C. Saint Louis,
Cpl Louis C. Foris,
Cpl Clarence N. Cole,
Sgt Myles E. Duquette,
Won Melville S. Wood,
P/O Donald W. Hume.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-1-FO Liberator in Ballyshannon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1944 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-50721
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Belfast
MSN:
2606
Location:
Ballyshannon
Ulster
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a ferry flight from Goose Bay to Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport. While approaching Ireland, the navigator informed the captain that the fuel reserve seems to be insufficient to reach the destination while the radio operator was unable to contact ground. The captain was approaching St Angelo but the airfield was closed due to fog and clouds so he decided to fly back to find a clear zone near Ballyshannon for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the bomber hit a concrete wall and was wrecked. Eight crew members were injured while two others were killed.
Crew:
2/Lt Arthur H. Dittmer,
2/Lt Marvin J. Reddick,
2/Lt Arnold A. H. Grueber,
2/Lt Wayne R. Davis,
S/Sgt Lester M. Clark,
Sgt Edward J. Friedl,
Sgt Carlos F. Maestas, †
Sgt George H. Smith,
Cpl James O. E. Harvey,
Cpl Riley W. Cannon. †
Source: http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/42-50721.htm
Probable cause:
Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated Canso off Goose Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Registration:
9781
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crew became lost during a survey flight, most probably due to a weather deterioration. Pilot ditched the aircraft in the icy Melville Lake located off Goose bay but the aircraft battered by ice flow and eventually sank. The crew left the cabin and found refuge in dinghies. Unfortunately, all attempts made for rescue were unsuccessful and all eight occupants were never found.
Crew:
W. E. McNicholl 7.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Fort Pepperrell AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100496
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Fort Pepperrell
MSN:
18959
YOM:
1943
Location:
Fort Pepperrell AFB (St John's)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Goose Bay to Fort Pepperrell AFB located in St John's, with a load of jeep spare parts on board. While on approach in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was too low, hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Two crew members were rescued while the pilot Lee D. Graham was killed.
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