No fatalities

McGregor Bay Takeoff Accident Due to Engine Failure (CF-DIS)

McGregor Bay, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On March 13, 1948, a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth (registration CF-DIS) operated by Great Northern Skyways was involved in an aviation accident near McGregor Bay, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure that occurred shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed shortly after departing McGregor Bay following an engine failure, resulting in the total loss of the airframe and injuries to the pilot.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase immediately after departure from McGregor Bay. The flight experienced a critical mechanical issue involving the powerplant, specifically an engine failure, which prevented the aircraft from maintaining safe flight parameters. As a direct consequence of this loss of thrust, the aircraft was unable to continue its ascent and crashed into the terrain shortly after takeoff.

The impact resulted in significant structural damage, leading to the airframe being declared a total loss and written off. The pilot sustained injuries during the crash but survived the event. No other individuals were reported as victims in this specific incident report.

Findings

Official investigations identified the mechanical malfunction of the propulsion system as the primary factor leading to the accident. The failure of the engine shortly after liftoff was determined to be the direct cause of the loss of control and subsequent crash.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure that occurred shortly after takeoff.