Aircraft breakup during landing at La Grande-Rivière Airport

No fatalities • La Grande-Rivière, Canada • Landing (descent or approach)

A cargo flight carrying fuel drums for a hydroelectric construction project ended in an aircraft breakup after striking a snowdrift upon landing.

What happened

A cargo operation involving the transport of supplies to a hydroelectric power station construction site resulted in an accident at La Grande-Rivière Airport. The aircraft was tasked with delivering 15 drums of fuel intended for workers at the La Grande River project.

Upon completing the landing phase, the aircraft made contact with a snowdrift on the runway. This impact caused the plane to lose control, leading to a sequence of events that resulted in the airframe breaking into two separate pieces. While the accident caused significant damage to the plane, there were no injuries reported among the two pilots on board.

Findings

The primary factor in the loss of the aircraft was the impact with a snowdrift immediately following touchdown, which compromised the structural integrity of the airframe.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck a snowdrift during the landing roll, causing the fuselage to break into two sections.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1975-09-25 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near La Grande-Rivière, Canada?

A cargo flight carrying fuel drums for a hydroelectric construction project ended in an aircraft breakup after striking a snowdrift upon landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 1975-09-25 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1975-09-25 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration CF-ECY, operated by Laurentian Air Services, at La Grande-Rivière, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft struck a snowdrift during the landing roll, causing the fuselage to break into two sections.

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