1 fatality

Fatal aircraft accident during firefighting operations in Slave Lake (C-FBVH)

Slave Lake, CanadaFlight

On April 24, 1980, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration C-FBVH) operated by Air Spray was involved in an aviation accident near Slave Lake, Canada in flight. One person was killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft crashed under undetermined circumstances while performing firefighting duties near Slave Lake, resulting in the death of the pilot.

What happened

During an active mission to combat wildfires, an aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Slave Lake. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was engaged in aerial firefighting operations. The flight was operated by a single occupant, and there were no other persons on board at the time of the impact.

Emergency responders confirmed that the pilot sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The specific sequence of events leading to the loss of the aircraft remains under investigation, as the exact nature of the accident has not yet been determined.

Findings

At this stage of the investigation, the precise cause of the crash is unknown. Authorities have noted that the incident occurred while the aircraft was actively participating in a firefighting mission, but no specific mechanical failures or environmental factors have been officially attributed to the accident.