Date & Time:
Sep 18, 1946 at 0512 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
42986
YOM:
1946
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
6
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
21
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Brussels Airport at 1500 hours (GMT) on 17 September and proceeded above clouds to Shannon Airport where a normal stop was made. After leaving Shannon Airport the aircraft encountered turbulent air conditions. To avoid this turbulence the captain climbed the aircraft to a height of about 4,800 metres, but was forced to descend as some of the passengers were becoming distressed. The aircraft encountered light icing conditions during the crossing. As the aircraft approached Gander the air was very rough. The captain reported passing the high cone at Gander Radio Range Station at 0733 hours (GMT) at a height of 2,000 feet. Under the weather conditions prevailing, the normal required height for passing the cone is 4,000 feet. At 0737 hours (GMT) the aircraft reported that it was on procedure turn and asked for the barometric pressure. The reading '29,55' was passed, and the aircraft acknowledged. Signals were clear and normal. About 10 minutes later when no further contact had been made with the aircraft the Radio Range Station was asked cooperate with the control tower in calling the aircraft. Stephenville and Torbay were also alerted. Air search and rescue operations were commenced as soon as weather permitted, but the wreck was not discovered until just before noon the following day, 38 km southwest of Gander Airport. The navigator's watch stopped at 0742 hours (GMT). The total time take for the flight from Brussels was approximately 14 3/4 hours. The aircraft, still had fuel for 7,7 hours. A stewardess and 16 passengers were rescued while 27 other occupants were killed including six crew members.
Crew:
Jean Ester, pilot, †
Alfred E. Drossaert, copilot, †
A. Fassbender, flight engineer, †
L. C. J. Verstraeten, navigator, †
Jean Dutoit, radio operator, †
Jeanne M. Bruylant, flight attendant, †
Jeanne Roeckx, flight attendant.
Passengers:
Joseph Alter, †
Anne F. Beausillon, †
Georges C. Cauchie,
Jef Deschuyffeleer,
Rose M. Descotte, †
R. L. Devooght, †
U. M. Devos, †
Albert A. Dupont, †
Franz Dupont, †
Ruth R. Henderson,
Isabelle Henricot, †
Phillipe Henricot,
R. M. Jaucquet,
John K. I. King,
Charles Kronengold,
Selma Kronengold,
E. Kyser,
Raymond L. Libeert, †
Nathan Lindenbaum, †
Nelly Lowenthal, †
Suzanne Martin,
Marie M. Noblet-Perier, †
H. W. Pauwels, †
Etienne P. Perier,
Jeanne M. Perier,
Marie J. Perier, †
Jean H. Polak,
R. Revil,
Hubert J. Reynardts, †
Louise R. Reynardts, †
L. Rupert, †
L. G. Schyne, †
Leona T. Tonglet,
Leon T. Tonglet,
G. Wachsberger-Gommers,†
Mary M. Wilson, †
W. M. Wilson. †
Crew:
Jean Ester, pilot, †
Alfred E. Drossaert, copilot, †
A. Fassbender, flight engineer, †
L. C. J. Verstraeten, navigator, †
Jean Dutoit, radio operator, †
Jeanne M. Bruylant, flight attendant, †
Jeanne Roeckx, flight attendant.
Passengers:
Joseph Alter, †
Anne F. Beausillon, †
Georges C. Cauchie,
Jef Deschuyffeleer,
Rose M. Descotte, †
R. L. Devooght, †
U. M. Devos, †
Albert A. Dupont, †
Franz Dupont, †
Ruth R. Henderson,
Isabelle Henricot, †
Phillipe Henricot,
R. M. Jaucquet,
John K. I. King,
Charles Kronengold,
Selma Kronengold,
E. Kyser,
Raymond L. Libeert, †
Nathan Lindenbaum, †
Nelly Lowenthal, †
Suzanne Martin,
Marie M. Noblet-Perier, †
H. W. Pauwels, †
Etienne P. Perier,
Jeanne M. Perier,
Marie J. Perier, †
Jean H. Polak,
R. Revil,
Hubert J. Reynardts, †
Louise R. Reynardts, †
L. Rupert, †
L. G. Schyne, †
Leona T. Tonglet,
Leon T. Tonglet,
G. Wachsberger-Gommers,†
Mary M. Wilson, †
W. M. Wilson. †
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the aircraft, in level flight, colliding with terrain 300 feet above the level of and 24 miles southwest of the airport. The crash was due to the failure of the pilot to carry out proper instrument approach procedure when attempting to land in bad weather conditions.
Final Report:
OO-CBG.pdf307.57 KB
