On December 9, 1968, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration CF-XJM) operated by Lambair - Lamb Airways was involved in an aviation accident near The Pas, Canada in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight fire necessitated an emergency descent and led to a crash landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft experienced an in-flight fire while en route, leading to a crash landing near The Pas that resulted in the total loss of the airframe.
What happened
While performing an en route flight, an onboard fire broke out within the cabin. In response to the emergency, the pilot initiated a descent to a lower altitude to facilitate an unplanned emergency landing.
During the attempt to land, the aircraft struck the ground in the vicinity of The Pas. Following the impact, a significant post-crash fire ignited, which ultimately led to the complete destruction of the airframe. Despite the severity of the impact and the subsequent flames, there were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board.
Findings
An active fire was present during the flight phase prior to the landing attempt.
Probable cause
An in-flight fire necessitated an emergency descent and led to a crash landing.