No fatalities

Training aircraft crash near Vancouver University due to fog (L7911)

Vancouver, CanadaFlight

On October 2, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration L7911) operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF was involved in an aviation accident near Vancouver, Canada in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the need for an emergency landing resulting from reduced visibility due to fog. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military training aircraft crashed into trees near Vancouver University after the pilot became disoriented in foggy conditions. Both crew members escaped without injury.

What happened

The flight originated from Patricia Bay as part of a weapons and tactics training exercise. During the transit phase, the pilot encountered foggy conditions that led to a loss of situational awareness. Unable to maintain visual reference or navigate effectively, the pilot initiated an emergency landing attempt. The aircraft subsequently collided with trees in the vicinity of Vancouver University. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the severity of the crash, both individuals on board, consisting of the pilot and a wireless operator/air gunner, escaped the wreckage unhurt.

Findings

The official investigation attributed the accident to the necessity of an emergency landing precipitated by poor visibility. The foggy weather conditions were identified as the primary factor that caused the pilot to become lost and forced the premature descent into terrain.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the need for an emergency landing resulting from reduced visibility due to fog.