Trans-Canada Air Lines - TCAL

Douglas DC-8

The Douglas DC-8 aircraft was on a regular scheduled flight Montreal-Dorval Airport (YUL) to Toronto (YYZ), Canada, scheduled to leave Montreal at 18:10. There were some delays in the boarding of the passengers and Flight 831 started its takeoff roll on runway 06R at approximately 18:28. Weather was reported as overcast, light rain and fog, visibility 4 miles, surface wind NE at 12 mph. The flight was instructed to report passing 3000 feet and 7000 feet on the climb-out from the airport. The aircraft took off normally, reported in at 3,000 feet and acknowledged a clearance for a left turn to St. Eustache. This was the last radio contact with the flight. The aircraft then deviated from its normal flight path about 55 degrees to the right and began a quick descent. At 18:33, 16.9 miles from the airport, the DC-8 struck the ground at a speed of 470-485 knots descending at an angle of about 55 degrees (+/- 7deg). The airplane plunged into the ground and totally disintegrated upon impact. There were no survivors among the 118 occupants.

Vickers Viscount

On approach to Toronto-Malton Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. The aircraft descended below the glide until it struck the ground. On impact, then undercarriage and the engines were sheared and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest 3,400 feet short of runway threshold. All 38 occupants were evacuated, ten of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Vickers Viscount

The Viscount was parked at gate to board passengers when it was struck by a Seaboard & Western Airlines' Lockheed L-1049D Super Constellation which was performing training flight LN800 at Idlewild Airport. The Constellation began its takeoff run on runway 31R of the New York International Airport at 1100. When an airspeed of 117 knots (V 2) was reached, the aircraft became airborne and climbed to an altitude of approximately 25 feet. At this altitude severe control difficulty was encountered, causing the aircraft to veer suddenly to the left and the left wing to lower 20 to 30 degrees. This wing struck the runway and from this point on directional control of the aircraft was lost. The aircraft skidded In a westerly direction into a temporary terminal area and came to rest after striking the Viscount. All five crew members from the Constellation were injured while the Viscount was empty. Both aircraft were totally destroyed by fire.

Canadair C-4 North Star

Flight 810-9 was a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Toronto. It carried a crew of 3 and 59 passagers. A cruising altitude of 19,000 feet was selected. The aircraft departed Vancouver at 1810 hours Pacific standard time on 9 December 1956 and was cleared by Air Traffic Control to Calgary Airport via Mud Bay, Abbotsford and Cultus Lake (Red 75 and Red 44). The flight made the normal position reports giving altitude and reported icing beginning at 16 000 feet, moderate turbulence 16 000 feet to 18 000 feet, heavy jolts at 19 000 feet and at 1848 requested clearance to 21 000 feet. At 1852, 810 reported a fire in No. 2 engine, that this engine had been shut down and that the aircraft was returning to Vancouver via Cultus and Abbotsford. Shortly afterwards the flight reported difficulty in maintaining height and requested clearance to descend on Green 1. The last altitude reported by Flight 810 was just above 15 000 feet which would be maintained if possible. At 191 0 hours Flight 810 reported passing Hope, the altitude was not given but clearance to descend to 10 000 feet was requested. ATC cleared 810 to cross the Vancouver range at 8 000 feet or above. Flight 810 acknowledged and this was the last radio contact. All through this latter part of the flight the tone of the voice in the radio transmission, as recorded on TCA tape, did not suggest undue concern by the crew of 810. Nothing more was heard of the aircraft until a part was dis- covered by mountaineers on 12 May 1957, when they .were climbing Mt Slesse, at approximately the 7 600-foot level, adjacent to the third highest peak.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Following an uneventful flight from Tampa, the captain started a night approach to Toronto-Malton Airport. During an ILS approach in poor weather conditions (300 feet ceiling), the four engine aircraft descended below the glide and hit the ground about 11 miles short of runway 10. It slid for 2,000 feet before coming to rest in flames. All 23 occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Canadair C-4 North Star

While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 under IFR rules, the four engine aircraft collided with a RCAF North American T-6 Harvard registered 3309. Sole on board, the pilote just took off from Moose Jaw Airfield for a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and dove into the ground. The Harvard crash on a golf course while the North Star crashed onto a house located in the suburb of Moose Jaw. The pilot of the Harvard was killed as well as all 35 occupants on board the TCAL aircraft and one people inside the house.

Canadair C-4 North Star

On final approach to Sydney, the aircraft was too low and hit an earth mound short of the runway threshold. On impact, an undercarriage punctured a fuel tank and a fire erupted. The aircraft landed safely but came to rest in flames and was damaged beyond repair. All 17 occupants were unhurt.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

While approaching Vancouver from the North, the crew did not realized that his altitude was insufficient due to the low visibility caused by night. The twin engine aircraft hit the east slope of a mountain located near Mt Elsay, some 16 km north of Vancouver. SAR operations were conducted in a large area but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Walkers found the wreckage of the aircraft in a remote area on September 27, 1994.

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

During initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a snow covered field located in Headingley, about 10 km west of Winnipeg Airport. Both crew members were killed.

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

The crew was performing a local training flight from Moncton Airport. After completing a circuit, he was returning to the airfield when the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that lost height, hit trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Turtle Creek, southwest of Moncton Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

The aircraft left Montreal-Dorval Airport at 2359LT on December 29 on a mail and VIP flight to Prestwick on behalf of the Canadian Government Trans-Atlantic Air Service (CGTAS). At 0649LT, the Goose Bay Control Center received a mayday signal when the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet some 600 miles east of Newfoundland. SAR mission was conducted but all operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found. Crew: Maurice Gauthier, pilot 3. Passenger: Alfred E. Evans, Chief of the British Admiralty Technical Mission in Ottawa.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Shortly after take off from Toronto-Malton Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. While all occupants evacuated safely, the aircraft was written off.

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

On final approach to Armstrong by night, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located few km short of runway. All 12 occupants were killed.

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Shortly after take off from Regina Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed. They were performing a mail flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver with an intermediate stop in Regina.