De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

On Saturday 4th September '76 at approximately 12:00 hours, the pilot while preparing Otter MIT for flight, called the local company radio operator to request weather information for his VFR flight to Timmins. The operator transmitted the 11:23 terminal forecast for Timmins, the 10:00 observation for Moosonee and the 11:18 special observation for Timmins. The terminal reports for Moosonee and Timmins were much better than forecast and acceptable for VFR flight. At about 12:10 the radio operator at Moosonee received a special weather observation for Timmins which indicated deteriorating weather but did not pass this vital information to the pilot at that time. The Otter departed at 12:30 and shortly after take off the pilot advised the company operator at Moosonee that his estimated time of arrival at the South Porcupine seaplane base was 14:30. A few minutes later the radio operator attempted several times to contact the aircraft, to pass the new weather information,but without success. No other radio transmission was heard from the Otter. Because the flight was operating under VFR rules and because some of his passengers had limited time to make airline connections at Timmins, the pilot elected for the direct route, a distance of 165 nautical miles between the Moosonee and Timmins NDBs. To follow this route, the pilot would have used his ADF radio equipment and / or map reading techniques. Considering the cloud ceilings were at about one thousand feet and some terrain in the area rises to 950 feet, the deteriorating conditions would have induced the pilot to divert from the planned track. Since the accident site was 28 miles west of the direct track, it is probable that he diverted westward toward lower terrain to go around poor weather. Arriving at the Abitibi River, he followed the river southward to the accident site near the Abitibi Canyon Dam. The valley narrows and the terrain rises at this site of the power dam. It is believed that the pilot found the visibility decreasing rapidly in dense upslope fog in this vicinity. At 13:37 hours the aircraft struck the high tension electrical cables near the generating station and crashed to the ground. After impact a fire developed and consumed the aircraft, which had 11,573 hours on the airframe at the time. From the geometry of the wirestrike, it is probably that the pilot saw the wires and commenced a climbing turn to try and get over them, but had insufficient time to avoid the collision. The airplane has been chartered for the Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning for Ontario.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.

The Otter had taken off that day from Prince Albert on a flight to Buffalo Narrows. Six miles north of Ile-à-la-Crosse, following an engine failure, the pilot made a forced landed in the bush and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The flight had proceeded for one hour forty minutes without incident when there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a complete power loss. Smoke was emitted into the cockpit and the pilot commenced a forced landing. Attempts to regain power were to no avail and the pilot transmitted a mayday, which was acknowledged by another aircraft. The Otter touched down in a semi-clear area in bush country in a nose high, full flap configuration. The pilot and passenger evacuated the Otter fearing a post crash fire, however none followed. They were located by a rescue party a short time after the crash.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.

Shortly after becoming airborne, the left wing dropped and struck the water. It was a warm, summer's day with a temperature of 23° C and a wind of 15 knots. The aircraft turned approximately 150° after the wing struck the water and crashed on the shore of an island. Fire started on impact and consumed most of the aircraft, although there were no injuries to the pilot and four passengers.
Source: Karl E. Hayes

Just after liftoff at Lynn Lake Airport, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed onto the runway. All nine occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route from Kamuela to Honolulu, the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditch the aircraft off Upolu, on the north coast of Hawaii Island. While both occupants were rescued, the aircraft sank and was not recovered.

The single engine airplane was engaged in a local sortie from the Auburn Academy Airport. During the takeoff roll on a grassy runway, the pilot lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, collided with a dirt bank and came to rest in flames. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Juneau to Hawk Inlet. While landing in the Hawk Inlet, the single engine airplane overturned, came to rest upside down and sank. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

During take-off from a gravel bar along the edge of the Duke of York River, the Otter became airborne but did not gain altitude. Shortly thereafter, it contacted a steep gravel river bank, made a shallow turn to the right, settled into the river and slowly nosed over, coming to rest inverted in three or four feet of water. Water began to pour in on the two crew and five passengers, who were hanging upside down still strapped into their seats. They managed to free themselves and wade ashore.
Source: https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_389.html

After takeoff from the gravel airstrip at Anchorage-Lake Hood, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck a lumber stack, a fence and crashed in flames onto a parking lot where five cars were damaged. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was en route to Aniak on a cargo flight.

Crashed in unknown circumstances southeast of Baudette. Occupant's fate unknown.