3 fatalities

Engine Failure and Crash During Transatlantic Charter Flight (CF-FOL)

Atlantic Ocean, WorldFlight

On November 17, 1972, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration CF-FOL) operated by S & H Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, World in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It was determined that the crew was inexperienced on this type of aircraft and that he never flew a transatlantic flight in the past. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

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

A charter flight from Keflavik to Saint John's suffered dual engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 160 km east of Saint John's, killing all three occupants.

Incident Overview

A charter flight en route from Keflavik, Iceland, to Saint John's, Newfoundland, experienced simultaneous failure of both engines as a result of fuel exhaustion. The crew attempted an emergency landing, but the aircraft subsequently crashed into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 160 kilometers east of Saint John's. All three individuals on board lost their lives in the accident.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined that the crew lacked experience on this particular aircraft type. Furthermore, the pilot had never previously conducted a transatlantic flight. During the journey, the aircraft encountered strong headwinds throughout the route, which led to higher-than-expected fuel consumption and a lower ground speed than planned. Specifically, the aircraft's speed was recorded at 112 km/h instead of the anticipated 150 km/h.

Probable cause

It was determined that the crew was inexperienced on this type of aircraft and that he never flew a transatlantic flight in the past. Investigations reported that the crew encountered strong headwinds all along the flight, causing the fuel consumption to be higher than expected with a lower speed than calculated. It was determined that the aircraft's speed was in fact 112 km/h instead of the expected 150 km/h.