Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

Airborne Fire Attack

After touching down to scoop another load of water, the pilot added power and the aircraft pitched forward. The pilot heard a pop and felt a sudden decelerative force. When the nose began to bowsuck, he applied more back pressure but the aircraft did not respond. The floor split open and water began rushing into the cockpit. The left nose gear door locking pin was found separated from its hydraulic actuator. It displayed a bend that corresponded to its retracted position in the pin guide. The deformation prevented investigators from reinserting the damaged pin back through the guide. The left mycarta block remained attached to the door and did not exhibit any damage.

Government of Quebec

The crew was completing a training mission at Lac-Caché, consisting of touch-and-go and scooping maneuvers. For unknown reasons, the seaplane landed hard, overturned and sank. One pilot was killed and the second was injured.

The Flying Fireman

After takeoff from Thunder Bay, while climbing, the right engine failed while the left engine lost power. The aircraft descended, struck obstacles and eventually crashed in a prairie. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroservicio Parragué - ASPAR

The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission under callsign 'Canso 31'. While approaching the fire zone at low height and ready to drop 5,000 liters of water, the airplane struck a pine tree with its left wing. Out of control, it crashed in a garden located in the district of Manquimávida, northeast of Chiguayante. Both pilots were killed instantly while the third occupant was seriously injured. He died while being transferred to the hospital. Crew: Carlos Paris Maldonado, pilot, Rolf Taucher, copilot, Jaime López Morales, observer.

The Flying Fireman

The crew was flying at low altitude while completing a firefighting mission when the right engine partially failed. The airplane lost height and crashed, killing both occupants.

Norcanair - North Canada Air

The Canso departed Hay River with two pilots on a firefighting mission in the region of Pine Point. While flying at low height, circling around the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the same area, the Canso collided with a Field Aviation Catalina registered CF-HTN. Two pilots were on board the Catalina and were also engaged in a firefighting mission. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed and were destroyed, killing all four crew members.

Barringer Research

The crew (pilots and technicians) were engaged in a local test flight consisting of an electric equipment post maintenance check. After liftoff, while in initial climb, the seaplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames in an open field. Both pilots were killed while three other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Royal Danish Air Force - Flyvevåbnet

The seaplane aircraft departed Værløse AFB on a training flight with three passengers and a crew of five on board. After completing landings into the sea off Gilleleje, the crew prepared for a second landing when the airplane struck the water surface in a nose-down attitude, plunged into the sea and sank by a depth of 12 meters, some 4,6 km offshore. A crew member was killed while seven other occupants were rescued.

Cruzeiro do Sul

Upon landing on the Rio Purus off Canutama, the seaplane was apparently in a wrong attitude, nosed down and came to rest partially submerged. Four passengers were killed while 10 other occupants were rescued.

The Flying Fireman

The crew was called at 1630LT for a forest fire that erupted on Skirt mountain near Victoria. The crew first made a scooping mission on the Saanich Inlet with more than 1,000 gallons of water. About an hour later, while flying at low height, the left wing of Tanker 772 struck a tree and the airplane crashed. Both pilots were killed, Alex Davidson (founder of The Flying Fireman) and Robert 'Paddy' Moore. The mission was completed on behalf of the BC Forest Service.

Newfoundland %26 Labrador Forestry Service

The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in Little Catalina, Newfoundland. While completing a scooping manoeuvre, the seaplane went out of control and sank into the Catalina Bay. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was injured. The aircraft was lost.

Sécurité civile française

The crew was engaged in a scooping mission on the Donzère-Mondragon Canal located near Pierrelatte. While taking off, the nose gear door opened due to a technical failure. Water entered the gear bay and control was lost. The seaplane veered to the right then struck the bank before coming to rest partially submerged. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Panair do Brasil

While approaching Portel, the crew encountered strong cross winds. The airplane struck the water surface and on impact, the windshield was sheared off. Water came into the cockpit and the cabin and the airplane partially sank. All occupants were evacuated safely.

Eastern Provincial Airways - EPA

Following an uneventful flight from Sondreströmfjord, the crew started the descent to Nuuk and the landing was made on a water area that had not been patrolled. This was contrary to current safety rules. Both pilots considered the touchdown was normal. However, after a run of a few seconds the aircraft swerved abruptly to starboard assuming an increasingly nose-down attitude. A steadily progressing but very quick deceleration took place. The seaplane plunged into water and came to rest, partially submerged. While all three crew members and three passengers were rescued, 15 passengers were drowned.

Panair do Brasil

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Manaus to Belém, carrying a load of dangerous goods. The airplane caught fire in flight and the captain reduced his altitude and performed an emergency landing on Rio Amazonas off Parintins. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Austin Airways

The departure from Puvirnituq harbor was performed in foggy conditions. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to the left when the left engine lost power. The seaplane lost height and crashed into the bay, few dozen yards off shore. All 12 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

On landing in the harbor of Prince Rupert, the seaplane struck a floating object, came to rest and sank. A crew member was killed while eight others were rescued.

Northern Wings

While on a cargo flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. The pilot-in-command apparently decided to reduce his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit the icy surface of a lake located near Manicouagan. The airplane was destroyed and two crew members were killed, the third occupant was injured.

Austin Airways

The seaplane departed Kapuskasing Airport at 2015LT bound for Timmins. Twenty minutes into the flight, the left engine lost power, following few seconds later by the right engine. As the altitude could not be maintained, the crew attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a wooded area located near Timmins. All three occupants were evacuated, the copilot was seriously injured.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The crew was performing a flight from Vancouver (Sea Island) to Holberg with intermediate stops at Comox and Tofino. On this trip, however, he did not stop at Comox. While flying along the Vancouver Island, an engine failed. The pilot-in-command attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the Johnstone Strait. Three crew members were killed while all others occupants were rescued. Those killed were: F/O P. C. Walker, navigator, F/O D. K. McPherson, radio operator, Ac1 N. C. Thompson.

Argentinian Navy - Armada Argentina

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport. There were no casualties.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Vancouver Airport. There were no casualties.

Hollinger Ungava Transport

While making a practice landing at Ashuanipi Lake, Labrador, the Canso's starboard float dug. The airplane swung, filled with water and sank by a depth of 200 feet. There were no casualties. The accident occurred in 1953 (exact date remains unknown).

Texaco Colombia

While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the Canso was hit by a Colombian Air Force Republic F-47D Thunderbolt registered 856. Hos pilot left Germán Olano Moreno Airbase in Puerto Salgar for a combined exercice with few other similar fighters. Following the collision, the Canso dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Guarinocito, killing all four occupants. The pilot of the fighter was able to bail out and was later recovered alive.

Queen Charlotte Airlines

The aircraft left Kildala at 1532 bound for Vancouver carrying twenty passengers and a crew of three. At 1733 the aircraft reported over Sullivan Bay and gave its ETA Vancouver as 1840. At 1825 the ETA Vancouver was revised to 1903 on account of strong southeast winds. The next and last radio transmission received was at 1848 when the aircraft reported it was 20 miles west of Vancouver at 2,000 feet and requested clearance to the tower frequency. At approximately 1855 hours the aircraft crashed into Mount Benson. All occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aero Geral

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Palame, Bahia, while completing a flight from Recife to Salvador de Bahia. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.

Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira

Crashed on landing at Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

While flying in poor weather conditions, the seaplane encountered severe turbulences, nosed down and crashed near Bigstone Lake, about 435 km northeast of Winnipeg. All 21 occupants were killed, among them 14 civilians. Crew: F/O George Walker Lineker, LAC Garnett Frederick Bull, F/O Albert George Eden, Cpl George Robert Mitchell, F/Lt William Wishart Robson, F/Lt Francis John Rush, F/O Daniel Orlande Shumay.

Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Osisko Lake located in Rouyn-Noranda. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

On landing off Kittigazuit, the seaplane hit rocks and sank rapidly. There were no casualties but the aircraft was lost.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Crashed on landing and broke in two. There were no casualties.

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

While approaching Tateyama Airfield, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter (Mitsubishi Zero) and crashed into the Tateyama Bay. A crew member was rescued while six others were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Edwin E. Bodley, Cpl Philip W. Carter, 2nd Lt Lawrence H. Chandler, 1st Lt Edmund L. Eliason, S/Sgt David A. Kressler, Sgt Vernon R. Radmall.

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

An engine failed enroute, causing the seaplane to crash in a mountainous region located 25 miles southwest of Grants. All seven crew members were killed. Crew: 1st Lt William T. Bartlett, Sgt Robert L. Crook, 1st Lt James J. Garland, Sgt John M. Jackson Sgt Irwin S. Marcus; 1st Lt Wilson H. Parker, Sgt Harold L. Post.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

It was just after 3 o’clock on a hot, calm July 23 in the year 1945 and the waters of the Ottawa River were as smooth as glass. Having just returned from active duty in Iceland patrolling for German U-boats during the last months of WW2, the giant PBY Canso flying boat, serial number 11023, was now part of the Rockcliffe based No.162 Squadron which specialized in photo reconnaissance. Originally built in Montreal in 1943 at the Vickers Canada factory, the 100 foot wingspan radial twin-engined flying boat was conducting practice take-off and landings in Lake Deschenes, a body of water that stretches north upriver from Britannia Bay. The still, calm waters may have seemed pleasant for the many boaters and swimmers in the area, but proved deadly for the float plane since the surface can be like smooth cement at high speed. This is thought to have contributed to what happened next. The plane took off without incident near the shores of Aylmer and circled over Shirley’s Bay, dropping low to land heading towards Britannia Beach. Suddenly the still, glassy water caught the plane in a disastrous manner, tearing off part of the wing, flipping the aircraft over and tearing a gaping hole into the hull. Listing to one side with 5 of the 7 man crew still inside and 2 men thrown clear of the aircraft, the plane quickly filled with water. Shocked cottagers watching the incident from their lawn chairs quickly jumped into their boats and sped towards the crash to assist in retrieving survivors from the wreckage. Within a minute the hull had slipped sideways into the depths of the river, tipping the 100 foot wing on end, like a massive sail sticking straight up out of the water. Two men trapped inside desperately tried to free themselves from the sinking wreck, but within minutes the aircraft submerged, taking all those still aboard with it. Two of the crew were pulled from the water into waiting boats as an RCAF crew member in a nearby boat courageously jumped into the water trying to reach the submerging plane in a desperate attempt to free those trapped underwater. AC Nightingale would later be awarded a medal for his bravery trying to save the doomed crew members. The plane quickly dropped into the murky depths and sadly no one else could be saved. The wreckage of the Canso settled and sank into the muddy bottom of the river where it would remain for several days. Pieces of the plane, equipment, fuel, oil, log books and other remnants floated to the surface as well as a few of the dead crew members. Divers tried to recover the remains of the crew members still inside but were hampered by the muddy silt now enveloping the plane. A tug boat was hired to attach cables and chains to pull what was left of the Canso to shore in Aylmer where it was hauled out of the water. The salvaged remains of the once mighty flying boat were then transported to Trenton, ON No.6 Repair Depot where records show it was catalogued as “scrap” and never heard from again. Does Canso 11023 still exist in a scrapyard somewhere? Is this tragic piece of history sitting in a junkyard, its story slowly becoming lost in time? It is unclear if the remaining underwater wreckage of the ill-fated Canso were ever recovered from the depths of Britannia Bay. If the plane broke apart upon impact it is likely that pieces still remain on the bottom today, covered in almost 70 years of silt and mud. Source: http://ottawow.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/crash-of-the-canso/ Special thanks to Anne Gafiuk, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

The seaplane left Mokerang Airfield at 0330LT to test the distance measuring equipment for COMAIR Admiralties. As the aircraft failed to return, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 occupants was found. Crew (1551st AAFBU): 1st Lt Paul W. Drew, pilot, Cpl Earnest John Bauer, flight engineer, Sgt Ralph Elliott Beirdneau, radio operator, Cpl Harry D. Paige Jr., radio operator. Passengers: 1st Lt Paul C. Crouch, 1st Lt Gordon A. Johnson, 2nd Lt Robert L. Flicker, 2nd Lt Milton M. Tittler, 2nd Lt Ralph J. Greco, S/Sgt Robert P. Eisele, Sgt Clyde Allen Walker, Cpl Carl A. Spangler.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

An engine failure forced the captain to attempt an emergency landing on the icy Morhiban Lake. On touchdown, the seaplane went out of control and crashed in flames. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

While landing in the Saanich Inlet, the seaplane hit the water surface, ground looped and sank. Four crew members were killed while four others were rescued.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Shortly after takeoff from Tofino, the seaplane lost height and crashed 5 km east of Tofino. All 12 crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The seaplane was engaged in a maritime patrol mission when it crashed into the sea off Clayoquot, in the region of Tofino, Vancouver Island. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found and all rescue operations were suspended after few days. The wreckage was eventually spotted on July 1945.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Tofino. Despite intense search, no trace of the seaplane nor the ten crew members was found.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The crew left Reykjavik on an anti-submarine patrol flight over the North Atlantic, and was scheduled to arrive at Wick Airport. On approach to Scotland, the crew encountered foggy conditions and the captain decided to divert to Stornoway. Shortly later, the seaplane hit a mountain on the Foula Island, off the Shetland archipelago. Seven crew members were killed while one occupant was seriously injured. Crew (162nd Squadron): WO2 Robert Densmore Harvey, † F/S Elliott Courtney Watson, WO2 John H. Knight, † F/S Robert Wilford Ernest Townsend, † F/O Abram Hildebrand, † F/O Willis Hilson Lloyd, † F/O George Gordon Bradshaw, † P/O James Edwin Bowler. † Source: http://www.canso11062.mikeharvey.ca/

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The aircraft was involved in a mission over the Norwegian Sea to attack German submarine. The submarine U-705 sunk but the seaplane was attacked as well. The captain ditched the aircraft and the crew waited for nine hours prior to be rescued. Four crew members were recovered while the fifth occupant was drowned.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the seaplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the bush near the runway end. Six crew members were killed while the second engineer was seriously injured. The crew was engaged in an urgent operational duties, mainly convoy coverage. Crew: F/Lt Brian Anthony Casey, pilot, F/Lt Joseph John Barsalou, pilot, F/O James Rayson Wallace Cleeland, navigator, P/O James Herbert Millar, wireless operator, Wo2 Alexander Frederick Morrice, wireless operator, Sgt John Benjamin Stallwood, 1st engineer, Cpl Urbain Edmond Antoine Dube, 2nd engineer. Source & photos: http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/07/13/rcaf-canso-9807/