2 fatalities

Fatal aircraft collision with mountain near Norman Wells (CF-TQW)

Norman Wells, CanadaFlight

On December 1, 1972, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration CF-TQW) operated by Reindeer Air Service was involved in an aviation accident near Norman Wells, Canada in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a mountain slope while flying in marginal weather conditions. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane crashed into a mountainside in the Norman Wells region during flight through poor weather, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

What happened

During a flight through marginal weather conditions, an aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain situated in the vicinity of Norman Wells. The mountain involved in the collision reaches an elevation of 6,200 feet.

Following the impact, search efforts located the wreckage several hours later. The debris field was positioned approximately 200 feet below the summit of the peak. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both members of the flight crew perished in the crash.

Findings

  • The aircraft was operating in marginal weather conditions at the time of the impact.
  • The collision occurred during the cruise phase of flight.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck a mountain slope while flying in marginal weather conditions.