Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 6 January 1943
Aircraft Type: Consolidated 28-5MC Canso (PBY-5)
Owner/operator: Royal Canadian Air Force – RCAF
Registration Number: 9737
Location: near Gander Lake, NL –
ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: Aircraft Hull and EnginesAircraft Hull and Engines
Category: Accident
A Canso flying boat, loaded with fuel, ammunition, and depth charges, experienced a catastrophic accident during takeoff. The aircraft encountered severe turbulence and then clipped trees, causing significant damage to the hull and engines. It plowed through the trees for approximately 200 feet before turning over and catching fire.A Canso flying boat, loaded with fuel, ammunition, and depth charges, experienced a catastrophic accident during takeoff. The aircraft encountered severe turbulence and then clipped trees, causing significant damage to the hull and engines. It plowed through the trees for approximately 200 feet before turning over and catching fire.
Description
Before dawn the Canso flying boat was loaded with fuel, ammunition and depth charges to within a few pounds of its maximum allowable take-off weight. The aircraft departed from Gander. Crossing Gander Lake the crew experienced the severe turbulence Shortly after passing over the Lake, as the aircraft started to turn, it clipped the tops of trees in rising ground. The aircraft cut a swath as it plowed through the trees for about 200 feet, at a flat angle of approach before the wings were ripped off. The hull and engines continued another 300 feet, then turned over and caught fire.
Primary Cause
Severe turbulence and impact with trees during takeoff.Severe turbulence and impact with trees during takeoff.Share on:
