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Aircraft breakup during takeoff at Hall Lake (CF-HMX)

Hall Lake, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On April 12, 1955, an Avro 685 York (registration CF-HMX) operated by Arctic Wings was involved in an aviation accident near Hall Lake, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a snow bank during its takeoff run, resulting in a structural failure of the airframe. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft sustained major structural damage after striking a snow bank during its departure from Hall Lake.

What happened

During the takeoff phase of flight from Hall Lake, a four-engine aircraft encountered a snow bank on the runway. The impact with the obstacle caused the airframe to break into two separate sections. Following the collision, the aircraft came to a complete stop at the site of the incident.

Despite the significant structural failure and the fact that the aircraft was broken in two, there were no injuries reported among the three crew members on board. The wreckage was deemed beyond economical repair and was subsequently abandoned at the location of the accident.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the structural breakup was the impact with a snow bank during the takeoff roll.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck a snow bank during its takeoff run, resulting in a structural failure of the airframe.

Related events

Same operator

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