Crash of a Grumman CS-2F Tracker in Toronto: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 2, 1968 at 2132 LT
Operator:
Registration:
1543
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shearwater – Montreal – Toronto
MSN:
DH42
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3719
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Shearwater on a routine training flight to Toronto with a scheduled fuel stop at Montreal-Saint-Hubert Airport. On board were four crew members, three pilots and one technician. A GCA approach was made to runway 15 but the aircraft was cleared for a circling approach and landing to runway 27. After completing a normal GCA the aircraft commenced the circling procedure to runway 27. While initiating a turn to the left at an altitude of 300-500 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed at a speed of 85 knots in the backyard of a private property located 1,4 NM southeast of the control tower, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Murray George McRadu, pilot,
2nd Lt Preben Ejgil Kaersvang, copilot,
2nd Lt William John Boles,
Michael Schofield.
Crew:
Lt Murray George McRadu, pilot,
2nd Lt Preben Ejgil Kaersvang, copilot,
2nd Lt William John Boles,
Michael Schofield.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was illumination of the starboard fire warning light following which the pilot attempted to adhere to the 'engine fire in the air' procedure. This produced a situation of rapidly falling airspeed due to high drag and low power resulting in a series of complicating circumstances and pressures which ultimately caused the pilot to err an feather the wrong engine. From this point the pressures on the pilot were such that the correct action was impossible and the accident was inevitable.
Final Report:
