Pacific Western Airlines - PWA | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine aircraft took off from High Lake at 1745LT on a non-scheduled charter flight to Desolation Lake with a pilot and three geologists aboard. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and later, during the same day, it was reported missing. The wreckage was found on 30 August approximately 2 miles south of High Lake. All four occupants had been killed in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by an engine failure. Subsequent examination revealed sufficient water in the fuel lines, screens and filters to cause engine failure. A forced landing was necessary and the aircraft struck the ground at a steep angle, estimated at approximately 60° measured from the horizontal, indicating that the aircraft was out of control at the time of impact.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson V in Cambridge Bay

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

CF-FOF

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

MDF-089

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Bamfield

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

CF-OBM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

N29-18

YOM:

1946

Location:

Bamfield (Vancouver Island)

British Columbia

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in the vicinity of Bamfield at a relative low altitude, the pilot made a sharp turn when the single engine airplane lost height and crashed into a lake. All three occupants were quickly rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson V near Radium Hot Springs

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

CF-EFZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

MDF-220

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranraer at Sovereign Lake: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1957 at 1335 LT

Type of aircraft:

Canadian Vickers Stranraer

Operator:

Registration:

CF-BYM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sovereign Lake, the seaplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Cape Perry

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

CF-HFP

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

MW233

YOM:

1946

Location:

Cape Perry

Northwest Territories

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Cape Perry Airfield, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties and overran. It lost its right main gear and came to rest down an embankment. All three crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-3 in Port Hardy: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1957 at 1420 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

CF-EPI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Port Hardy – Vancouver

MSN:

7408

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At approximately 1411LT the aircraft departed Port Hardy on a scheduled flight to Vancouver with a crew of three and fifteen passengers on board. Five minutes after takeoff the pilot informed the control tower that he was returning because of elevator control trouble. The aircraft made a long final approach to runway 15 and at 1420LT touched the runway and bounced. At this point, the aircraft was observed to make an exceptionally sharp climb and it appeared that full power was applied. However, at the top of this steep climb, the aircraft stalled and fell to the ground in a nose-down attitude, the right wing striking first, and burst into flames almost instantly. The stewardess and three passengers were the only survivors.

Probable cause:

Because of a partially locked elevator, control of the aircraft was lost during an attempt to land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31 at Beaverlodge Lake

Date & Time: May 30, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

CF-TFZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

13139

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on the Beaverlodge Lake, the crew started to brake when the left main gear went through the ice, causing the left wing to struck the ground and to be bent. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was abandoned as its was considered as damaged beyond repair.