4 fatalities

Fatal Low-Altitude Collision Near Summerside (N9688)

Conway, CanadaFlight

On October 29, 1942, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N9688) operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF was involved in an aviation accident near Conway, Canada in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's lack of experience on the aircraft type combined with engaging in unauthorized low flying led to the collision. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft crashed into trees near Conway after departing Summerside Airport for a navigation exercise, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident involved a routine navigation exercise that began at Summerside Airport. During the flight, the aircraft was operating at a low altitude when it collided with trees. The impact occurred in the area of Conway, located approximately 27 kilometers northwest of the departure airfield.

The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airplane. All four individuals on board were killed in the accident. The crew consisted of a pilot, two navigators, and a wireless operator.

Findings

Official findings indicated that the pilot lacked sufficient experience with this specific aircraft type. Additionally, the low-altitude maneuvering was determined to be unauthorized.

Probable cause

The pilot's lack of experience on the aircraft type combined with engaging in unauthorized low flying led to the collision.