What happened
The incident involved a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft returning to Canada from the European War Theater. The airframe was transporting twenty soldiers on leave along with a crew of four members. After completing a refueling stop at Gander, the flight proceeded toward Mont-Joli Airfield.
During the night leg of the journey, weather conditions deteriorated with falling snow. While cruising at an altitude of 2,871 feet, the aircraft collided with the slope of Black Mountain (Montagne Noire) near Saint-Donat in the Laurentides region. The impact resulted in the death of all 24 people on board.
Search and rescue efforts were extensive but initially unsuccessful. For several weeks, authorities conducted 728 reconnaissance flights totaling 2,438 flying hours without locating the wreckage or any survivors. It was not until June 26, 1946, that hikers discovered the debris field. This event remains the most significant disaster in RCAF history.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to determine a single conclusive cause for the accident. However, authorities attributed the crash to a combination of factors, including severe snowstorm conditions, inaccuracies in navigation maps, and an improperly set altimeter.