Ontario Provincial Air Service

Noorduyn Norseman

The aircraft took off from Trout Lake, (North Bay), with pilot, engineer, four passengers, and roughly 1,200 pounds of equipment for Timagami, Ontario. A fisherman on Ingall Lake stated that he saw an aircraft fly over at roughly 1,200 feet and heard the engine cut out for a period of approximately ten seconds then pick up again. It was this man's opinion that, although the engine caught again, it did not appear to have the same power and sounded as though it was missing. A short time later, two men, located at separate points on the shore of Wilson Lake, heard an aircraft approaching and stated that the engine was sputtering and missing and that the aircraft was losing height. One of these witnesses stated that just before the aircraft went out of sight, it banked steeply to the right and then went into a spin. A fourth man in his cabin at Milne Lake, heard an engine roar very loudly and then fade out three times. The sound seemed to be quite close and he stepped out the door just in time to see the aircraft hit the ground thirty feet away. Fire broke out immediately and in a matter of seconds, the aircraft was a mass of flame. The pilot, air engineer, and three passengers were fatally injured while a fourth passenger was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The condition of the propeller indicated that very little power was being developed at the time of impact. The carburetor had been damaged by fire, and the fuel filters could not be found. There was still fuel in the tanks even after the fire. The aircraft landed in a small clearing surrounded by trees and cottages, and did not move more than three feet from the point of initial contact. Weather was not considered to have been a contributing factor. The aircraft was overloaded by an estimated 173 pounds at the time of the accident. The pilot transmitted the distress signal 'mayday' but no details of the emergency were given. Between the point where the engine was first reported to have been malfunctioning and the location of the accident, the aircraft passed over two lakes which could have provided adequate space for a successful forced landing.

Noorduyn Norseman

While landing by night on Caribou Lake, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was lost.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Shortly after takeoff from Kwagama Lake, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft encountered downdraft, stalled and crashed into the lake. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Noorduyn Norseman

On final approach to Poshkakagan Lake, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed on the shore. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

After liftoff from Twin Lakes, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed into the lake. Both occupants escaped and were rescued while the aircraft was lost.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in a wheat field located some 8 miles south of Nakina. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth

While landing at Gander Lake, north of Elliot Lake, Ontario, the float plane hit a rock and sunk. All occupants escaped unhurt but the aircraft was lost.

Fairchild 71

Shortly after takeoff from Arrow Lake, while climbing, the float plane suffered an engine failure, crashed and sank. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Hamilton H-47

The pilot departed Thunder Bay on a local solo demo flight. While performing aerobatic manoeuvres, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed into the Lake Superior. The pilot was killed.