Shearwater - Shearwater

On July 30, 1943 at 05:57 AM, Shearwater - Shearwater experienced a crash involving Consolidated Canso, operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF, with the event recorded near Shearwater Nova Scotia.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 12.5%.

Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was briefing at 0500 hrs, started engines at 0540 and started the takeoff run at 0552. The aircraft take off weight was 33,426 lbs which was near the maximum allowable takeoff weight of 34,500. The aircraft became airborne after an abnormally long run and circled the area while climbing to 700’. As the direct route to the patrol area, Seaforth Channel, was closed by weather PO Joseph headed south via the west side of Lama Passage. The ceiling lowered so he descended to stay under the cloud. Suddenly the fog closed in and Joseph turned the aircraft to the left attempting to return to Base on a reciprocal course. His airspeed was 120 knots but altitude could not be maintained in the 35 degree turn like he used to do in a Stranraer. The aircraft was leveled off after turning through 120 degrees as they were getting close to the water. The aircraft was put into a steep climbing position at full power. They had started climbing in the patchy fog when the pilot saw a wooded ridge. They increased the rate of climb and the speed dropped to 70 knots and was down to 50 knots by the time they mushed into the 700’ mark on an 800’ ridge. On impact the a/c caught fire. They had been airborne a total of five minutes. Crew: P/O J. A. Joseph, pilot, F/Sgt K. L. Brown, copilot, P/O J. L. Jones, navigator, F/O R. B. Shirra, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt H. A. S. Rawlinson, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt E. A. Kershsaw, Sgt J. A. Cowman, flight engineer, † LAC W. J. Johnston, flight engineer. Source: http://www.101nisquadron.org/?page_id=1539

Aircraft reference details include registration 9789, MSN 22018, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 44.6288°, -63.5155°.