What happened
On October 1, 1957, a PBY-5A Canso was performing a fuel delivery mission to a remote communications outpost at Sona Lake. While returning from the site during twilight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power in both engines approximately 80 kilometers from its intended destination. The port engine failed almost immediately, leaving the crew to manage the remaining engine as it also lost performance.
In an attempt to reach a nearby large lake, the pilot attempted an emergency descent. However, the second engine eventually ceased functioning, making a controlled water landing impossible. The aircraft struck the treetops and bounced across a marshland before briefly regaining altitude. During this maneuver, the starboard wing collided with a group of pine trees, causing the plane to spin violently.
Despite the impact, all three crew members survived the accident without injuries. A rescue floatplane located the survivors the next day. The wreckage was later inspected by investigators, revealing significant damage including a wrinkled hull, bent propellers, and a fractured wing spar caused by the impact with trees and the subsequent ground loop.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained severe structural damage to the leading edge, hull, and wings.
- Total engine failure prevented the crew from reaching a suitable landing site.
- Following the accident, the aircraft was stripped of its cockpit components and abandoned in the wilderness, where it remained for nearly thirty years.