No fatalities

Survey Aircraft Emergency Landing on Lake Superior (G-CAOB)

Gros Cap, CanadaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 8, 1926, a Curtiss HS-2L (registration G-CAOB) operated by Department of Lands & Forestry was involved in an aviation accident near Gros Cap, Canada during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure resulting from fuel contaminated with water. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-27Data APIEditorial standards

A survey aircraft experienced an engine failure during flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing on Lake Superior off Gros Cap, Ontario. The fate of the crew remains unknown.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a survey flight. During this operation, one of the engines failed in flight. In response to the mechanical issue, the pilot decided to execute an emergency landing on the surface of Lake Superior, located off Gros Cap, Ontario.

Upon impact with the water, the aircraft, which bore the name 'Buzzard', cartwheeled before coming to rest. The source material does not specify the make or model of the aircraft, nor does it provide a registration number. Consequently, no specific technical details regarding the airframe's configuration are available in this account.

The status of the individuals on board is not confirmed in the provided records. The text explicitly states that the crew fate unknown, indicating that there is no verified information regarding survival or casualties resulting from this event.

Findings

Official investigations identified the root cause of the mechanical failure. The engine stopped functioning because the fuel system was compromised by contamination. Specifically, the presence of water in the fuel supply led to the loss of power during the critical phase of the survey operation.

Probable cause

Engine failure resulting from fuel contaminated with water.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Oct 1926 Curtiss HS-2L accident near Gros Cap, Canada?

A survey aircraft experienced an engine failure during flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing on Lake Superior off Gros Cap, Ontario. The fate of the crew remains unknown.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Oct 1926 Curtiss HS-2L accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Oct 1926 involved a Curtiss HS-2L, registration G-CAOB, operated by Department of Lands & Forestry, at Gros Cap, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Engine failure resulting from fuel contaminated with water.