Winisk – Timmins

On November 9, 1969 at 12:00 AM, Winisk – Timmins experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Austin Airways, with the event recorded near Timmins Ontario.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While approaching Timmins Airport, the crew realized that weather conditions were marginal and decided to return to Winisk. This was not possible as the weather worsened at Winisk as well so the crew returned to Timmins and initiated a second approach despite the visibility was below minima. On final, the aircraft was too low and crashed three km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CF-AAL, MSN 15383/26828, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 48.4736°, -81.3293°.