No fatalities

Ground damage incident involving aircraft gear collapse on ice (CF-TFY)

Hudson Bay, CanadaParking

On June 18, 1956, a Bristol 170 Freighter (registration CF-TFY) operated by Transair Canada was involved in an aviation accident near Hudson Bay, Canada. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the main landing gear occurred because the icy surface failed to support the aircraft's weight during unloading. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft sustained irreparable damage during unloading operations after its main landing gear broke through an icy surface.

What happened

During the process of unloading an aircraft, a ground incident occurred involving the structural failure of the landing gear. While the crew was in the middle of removing cargo or passengers, the weight of the plane caused both main gears to penetrate the layer of ice covering the surface.

As a result of the gear sinking into the ice, the airframe sustained significant damage. The incident resulted in zero fatalities and no reported injuries to the crew members present at the scene. However, the structural integrity of the aircraft was compromised to such an extent that it was declared a total loss and subsequently abandoned.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the accident was the unstable ground surface consisting of ice, which was unable to support the weight of the main landing gear during ground operations.

Probable cause

The collapse of the main landing gear occurred because the icy surface failed to support the aircraft's weight during unloading.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Jun 1956 Bristol 170 Freighter accident near Hudson Bay, Canada?

An aircraft sustained irreparable damage during unloading operations after its main landing gear broke through an icy surface.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Jun 1956 Bristol 170 Freighter accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Jun 1956 involved a Bristol 170 Freighter, registration CF-TFY, operated by Transair Canada, at Hudson Bay, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collapse of the main landing gear occurred because the icy surface failed to support the aircraft's weight during unloading.