4 fatalities

Midair Collision Between Twin-Engine Aircraft and RCAF Anson Near Chambly (6196)

Chambly, CanadaFlight

On February 5, 1943, an Avro 652 Anson (registration 6196) operated by Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF was involved in an aviation accident near Chambly, Canada in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Midair collision between a twin-engine aircraft on an aerial photography exercise and an RCAF Anson on a post-maintenance flight. 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 twin-engine aircraft conducting aerial photography collided midair with an RCAF Anson on a post-maintenance flight north of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Both planes crashed near Chambly, resulting in the deaths of all five occupants.

What happened

The incident involved two aircraft operating in the airspace north of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The first was a twin-engine airplane engaged in an aerial photography exercise, carrying four individuals on board. It had departed from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Airfield shortly before the event. The second aircraft was a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Anson, registered as 6650. This military plane was being flown by a single pilot who was conducting a local post-maintenance check.

While both aircraft were in flight, they collided midair. Following the impact, both planes lost control and dived toward the ground. They crashed approximately 5 km south of Chambly. The force of the impact and subsequent crash resulted in fatal injuries to everyone on board both aircraft. In total, all five occupants across the two planes were killed.

Findings

The source material identifies the specific roles of the individuals aboard the civilian twin-engine aircraft, noting that the crew included a pilot, two navigators, and a photographer. The RCAF Anson was occupied solely by its pilot during the post-maintenance flight. No further technical findings or contributing factors beyond the midair collision itself are detailed in the provided text.

Probable cause

Midair collision between a twin-engine aircraft on an aerial photography exercise and an RCAF Anson on a post-maintenance flight.