Narrative:
The Bristol 170 took off from Edmonton at 00:21 MST for an IFR flight to Yellowknife. Within the Edmonton Control Area the crew had to maintain VFR however. Around 00:43 the radioed that they were experiencing problems because of a failure of the no. 2 engine and that they were returning to Edmonton at an altitude of 3000 feet. Nothing more was heard from the flight. It appeared the aircraft had crashed in a farm field.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "For reasons as yet undetermined the starboard engine failed and as a result of being overloaded, the aircraft did not maintain altitude on one engine and struck the ground with the starboard wingtip. A further contributory factor was considered to be the failure of the co-pilot's vacuum-driven gyro instruments, without his knowledge."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 17 September 1955 |
| Type: |  Bristol 170 Freighter 31 |
| Operator: | Pacific Western Airlines |
| Registration: | CF-GBT |
| MSN: | 12831 |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 22 km (13.8 mls) N of Thorhild, AB ( Canada)
|
| Phase: | Unknown (UNK) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Edmonton Municipal Airport, AB (YXD/CYXD), Canada |
| Yellowknife Airport, NT (YZF/CYZF), Canada |
The Bristol 170 took off from Edmonton at 00:21 MST for an IFR flight to Yellowknife. Within the Edmonton Control Area the crew had to maintain VFR however. Around 00:43 the radioed that they were experiencing problems because of a failure of the no. 2 engine and that they were returning to Edmonton at an altitude of 3000 feet. Nothing more was heard from the flight. It appeared the aircraft had crashed in a farm field.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "For reasons as yet undetermined the starboard engine failed and as a result of being overloaded, the aircraft did not maintain altitude on one engine and struck the ground with the starboard wingtip. A further contributory factor was considered to be the failure of the co-pilot's vacuum-driven gyro instruments, without his knowledge."
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (181-182)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Edmonton Municipal Airport, AB to Yellowknife Airport, NT as the crow flies is 983 km (614 miles).
Distance from Edmonton Municipal Airport, AB to Yellowknife Airport, NT as the crow flies is 983 km (614 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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