What happened
The aircraft was on final approach to Estevan Airport when the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. The specific reason for this decision is not recorded in the available records. As the undercarriage was retracted, the airplane rapidly assumed a nose-up attitude. This configuration led to an immediate aerodynamic stall. The plane crashed into the ground several hundred yards before reaching the runway threshold. The impact forces destroyed the airframe, and all 21 occupants were killed in the accident.
The flight consisted of a crew from the 124th Communications Squadron. The group was returning to Estevan after completing a delivery mission for Fairchild PT-19 Cornell aircraft to the USAAF at Minot Air Force Base. All personnel on board, including officers and non-commissioned ranks, perished in the event.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified a mechanical issue as the root cause of the loss of control. It was determined that a control lock on the starboard elevator had not been removed prior to takeoff from Minot AFB. This failure prevented proper elevator movement, leading to the stall and subsequent crash.