Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Calgary: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
8129
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Calgar
MSN:
1622
YOM:
1942
Location:
Calgary
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
149
Captain / Total hours on type:
91.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
147
Copilot / Total hours on type:
81
Aircraft flight hours:
230
Circumstances:
The crew departed Calgary Airport on a local instrument flying instruction exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed three miles east of the airport. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Harold Ernest Pitt, instructor,
LAC Frederick George Pike, pilot,
LAC Oliver James Nichols, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. A possible carbon monoxide poisoning was not ruled out.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I Near Valley River: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7921
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dauphin - Dauphin
MSN:
1414
YOM:
1942
Location:
Valley River
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
94
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Dauphin Airport on a local solo training sortie. About 4,5 miles north of Valley River, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Keith Francis Somerville, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. No evidence showed that the spin was intentional or inadvertent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna AT-17E Bobcat near Woodville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-15
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Woodville
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances six miles east of Woodville. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Joseph A. Corcoran.

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Moon Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1942 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7703
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saska
MSN:
1146
YOM:
1941
Location:
Moon Lake
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1000
Captain / Total hours on type:
789.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Saskatoon on a training mission in formation with a second RCAF Crane registered 7831 and carrying two crew members (one instructor and one student pilot). In unknown circumstances, both airplanes collided in mid-air. While the pilot of 7831 was able to complete an emergency landing, 7703 went out of control and crashed in Moon Lake, about 17 km south of Saskatoon. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
LAC M. D. Knight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Forrest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brandon - Brandon
MSN:
1190
YOM:
1941
Location:
Forrest
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
146
Captain / Total hours on type:
98.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brandon Airport on an interception exercise. While returning to base, the airplane collided with a second RCAF Crane registered 7756 and also carrying one pilot. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Forrest, about 7 km north of Brandon Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
LAC Ross Francis Kitto, pilot.
Probable cause:
The collision occurred in mid-air when breaking up an unauthorized formation flying when returning from interception exercise.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Forrest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7756
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brandon - Brandon
MSN:
1199
YOM:
1941
Location:
Forrest
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
127
Captain / Total hours on type:
98.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brandon Airport on an interception exercise. While returning to base, the airplane collided with a second RCAF Crane registered 7747 and also carrying one pilot. Both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Forrest, about 7 km north of Brandon Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
LAC Geoffrey Herbert Weston Hamilton, pilot.
Probable cause:
The collision occurred in mid-air when breaking up an unauthorized formation flying when returning from interception exercise.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna AT-8 Bobcat in Rayville

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
41-13
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1038
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rayville
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Rayville Airport. Crew fate unknown.
Crew:
Donn W. Piatt.

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Blaine Lake

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7706
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saskatoon - Saskatoon
MSN:
1149
YOM:
1941
Location:
Blaine Lake
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
139
Captain / Total hours on type:
87.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
156
Copilot / Total hours on type:
92
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0750LT, passed over Prince Albert, altered course for North Battleford. About half way to North Battleford, while flying at 4,650 feet, the pilot decided to drop down to 200 feet, then flew low just over tree tops for about 10 miles. The starboard engine missed a couple of times and while the pilot diverted his attention to adjusting mixture control, the aircraft struck the tops of trees and crashed, seriously injuring the occupants.
Crew:
LAC R. G. Cotton, pilot,
LAC J. J. L. Chale, navigator.
Probable cause:
Unauthorized low flying.

Crash of a Cessna Crane I at Rivers AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1942 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7826
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rivers - Rivers
MSN:
1269
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rivers AFB
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
95
Captain / Total hours on type:
63.00
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rivers AFB on a local training flight with other similar airplane. Fifteen minutes after takeoff on their first solo formation flight LAC McRae, then leading, gave signal to change from port echelon to starboard echelon. LAC Gibson in making the change piloted his aircraft 7826 in such a way that it came up immediately in front of the leader, collided and fell out of control with its tail cut off. It crashed in a field near the airport while the second airplane 7791 landed safely. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC H. F. Gibson, pilot.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement due to inexperience on the part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I in Brandon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1941 at 0050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7773
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brandon - Brandon
MSN:
1216
YOM:
1941
Location:
Brandon
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
122
Captain / Total hours on type:
74.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brandon Airfield on a night solo training flight. After takeoff, he initiated a right turn when the airplane lost height and struck the ground. The airplane was completely demolished and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Henry George Deery, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. An error in judgment on the part of the pilot cannot be ruled out, as it would appear that the pilot was a pupil of low average ability.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)