Date & Time:
Apr 7, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
CF-THK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Seven Islands - Montreal
MSN:
271
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
AC381
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
1
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Seven Islands Airport at 0913LT, while climbing, the crew reported a fire on engine n°2 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the crew initiated the braking procedure when control was lost due to fire in the left main gear wheel well. The airplane veered off runway to the right before coming to rest, bursting into flames. A passenger died during the evacuation and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Overheating of the starter selector relay during starting of no.1 and 2 engines. The proximity of a wire bundle to the relay provided a source of combustibles for the initial fire.
