Ottawa - Toronto - Winnipeg - Vancouver

On June 26, 1978 at 08:08 AM, Ottawa - Toronto - Winnipeg - Vancouver experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Air Canada, with the event recorded near Toronto-Lester Bowles Pearson Ontario.

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

107 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 105 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 1.9%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 102, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. During the takeoff roll on runway 23L, at a speed of 145 knots, the crew heard a thumping noise and felt vibrations. In a meantime, the right engine power dropped and a warning light coupled to the right main gear illuminated. The copilot informed the captain about the fact that the right main gear was unsafe. At a speed of 149 knots, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. He deployed the spoilers and activated the thrust reversers systems. The airplane was unable to stop within the 1,219 meters remaining, overran at a speed of 70 knots, rolled on a distance of 139 meters then went down a 15 meters high embankment and eventually came to rest, broken in three. Two passengers were killed while 55 others were injured and 50 unhurt.

Aircraft reference details include registration CF-TLV, MSN 47197, year of manufacture 1968.