10 fatalities

Twin-Engine Plane Strikes Trees and Crashes Near St John's Airport, Killing All 10 Onboard (C-GGAL)

Saint John's, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On June 23, 1978, a Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (registration C-GGAL) operated by Gander Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Saint John's, Canada during takeoff. 10 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

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

A twin-engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed on Mt Picco's Ridge shortly after takeoff from St John's Airport, killing all 10 occupants.

Accident Details

On an unspecified date, a twin-engine airplane took off from St John's Airport in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. During the initial climb, the aircraft struck tree tops and subsequently crashed on the slope of Mt Picco's Ridge, located near Portugal Cove, approximately six kilometers west of the airport. The impact destroyed the airplane, and all 10 occupants were killed.

Occupants

The flight crew consisted of pilot Gerald Eichel and copilot Michael Fitzpatrick. The eight passengers were Bill Manning, Marc Laterreur, B. Napier Simpson Jr., Robert Painchaud, Jules Leger, Jacqueline Leger, Brenda Babbits, and Alex Babbits.

Investigation

No probable cause for the accident was stated in the available source material.