Disappearance of cargo aircraft near Chatham, New Brunswick

4 fatalities • Gaspé, Canada • Flight

A cargo flight traveling from Saint-John to Goose Bay disappeared from radar in 1953, leading to an extensive search for the missing crew and passengers.

What happened

A cargo operation departed from Saint-John, New Brunswick, at 13:48 local time, destined for Goose Bay. The flight was carrying a total of four occupants, consisting of one pilot and three passengers. During the flight, the pilot communicated with air traffic control at 14:34 local time, reporting that the aircraft was operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) at an altitude of 7,000 feet in the vicinity of Chatham. At that time, the pilot provided an estimated arrival time over Seven Islands of 15:44.

Shortly after this final radio contact, the aircraft vanished from radar surveillance. Search and rescue operations were initiated to locate the missing plane and its passengers; however, these efforts were halted several days later when no evidence of the wreckage or the individuals on board could be located. The debris was not discovered until 27 August 1953, when it was spotted by a pilot flying for Trans-Gaspesian Airline.

Findings

No specific cause for the disappearance was determined at the time of the initial search, as the loss of radar contact occurred without any prior distress signals or mechanical warnings being transmitted to air traffic control.

Probable cause

The aircraft disappeared from radar tracking following its last radio transmission near Chatham without any known warning of distress.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1952-03-22 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Gaspé, Canada?

A cargo flight traveling from Saint-John to Goose Bay disappeared from radar in 1953, leading to an extensive search for the missing crew and passengers.

Were there any fatalities in the 1952-03-22 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1952-03-22 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration CF-BXZ, operated by Maritime Central Airways, at Gaspé, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft disappeared from radar tracking following its last radio transmission near Chatham without any known warning of distress.

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