Accident description
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| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 04 NOV 1959 |
| Time: | 23:07 |
| Type: | Douglas C-54A-15-DC |
| Operator: | Wheeler Airlines |
| Registration: | CF-ILI |
| C/n / msn: | 10360 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near St. Cleophas, PQ (Canada) |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Montreal-Dorval International Airport, QC (YUL/CYUL), Canada |
| Hall Lake, NWT, Canada | |
| Flightnumber: | 1658 |
Flight 1658 took off from Montreal runway 10 at 22:44 for a cargo flight to Hall Lake. Following take off the aircraft continued runway heading and climbed to 6000 feet. Course was then changed to 000deg and the aircraft climbed on to 9000 feet, reaching this altitude at 22:59. Some 3 and a half minutes later the crew reported that they were in an emergency descent because of a no. 2 engine fire. Last radio contact was at 23:07 when the crew reported that the plane had lost its left wing and "was in a spin and going straight in". The DC-4 broke up in midair, causing wreckage to cover a 1,25 x 0,75 mile area.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A fire of undetermined origin started in no.2 engine nacelle during the climb and developed to the stage where fire extinguishing equipment was inadequate to extinguish it. The following are considered to be primary contributing factors: 1) The deteriorated condition of the exhaust collector ring; 2) The probable deteriorated condition of the flexible wire braid hose assemblies; 3) The probable use of high power during the climb; 4) The possible failure of the fire detection and warning system to inform the pilot of the existance of a fire before it had penetrated the firewall and ignited the fuel feed system and oil tank to the rear of no.2 engine. During the rapid letdown, stresses were imposed on the weekened left wing by manoeuvre and/or gusts which were sufficient to sever the left wing spar. No subsequent action by the pilot could have brought the aircraft safely to the ground; neither was it possible to determine what effect a less rapid letdown would have had." Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 62-AN/57 (204-208)
