Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman off Vancouver Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GRQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Zeballos – Tofino
MSN:
328
YOM:
1944
Location:
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On a flight from Zeballos to Tofino, the single engine aircraft disappeared. As it failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the seven occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft may have crash into the sea off the Vancouver Island.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Nanaimo

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Ginger Coote Airways
Registration:
CF-AZE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vancouver – Zeballos
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Location:
Nanaimo
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Vancouver to Zeballos, the engine caught fire. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the single engine aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. All four occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild 51A near Port Alberni: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 51
Operator:
Ginger Coote Airways
Registration:
CF-AUX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vancouver - Zeballos
MSN:
769
YOM:
1934
Location:
Port Alberni
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On a flight from Vancouver to the Zeballos Gold Mine, the single engine aircraft hit tall trees and crashed in a wooded remote area located near Alberni Canal, west of Port Alberni. Nine months later, on 9 March 1939, British Columbia police found the wreckage of the missing aircraft strewn at the foot of several tall trees in a bush-covered hill section near Alberni Canal (presently Alberni Inlet) about 13 miles (21 km) from Port Alberni. Inside the crumpled fuselage were the remains of the missing persons.
Crew:
Len Waagens, pilot.
Passengers:
Mary Nicholson (wife of George Nicholson, postmaster and airline agent at Zeballos),
Charles Rumsey,
H. Boyd.
Subscribe to Zeballos