37 fatalities

Disappearance of a Four-Engine Aircraft Near Elfin Cove, Alaska (CF-CPC)

Pacific Ocean, WorldFlight

On July 21, 1951, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration CF-CPC) operated by Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air was involved in an aviation accident near Pacific Ocean, World in flight. 37 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: As no trace of the aircraft was found, the board was unable to determine conclusively the cause of the accident. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with rain falls, icing conditions and a visibility of 500 feet. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 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

A four-engine aircraft vanished near Elfin Cove, Alaska, while en route from Vancouver to Tokyo-Haneda with a stop at Elmendorf AFB. No wreckage or occupants were found, and the cause remains undetermined.

Flight Details and Disappearance A four-engine aircraft departed Vancouver at 1853 local time, bound for Tokyo-Haneda with an intermediate stop at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. While cruising along the Alaskan shore, vertical to Cape Spencer near Elfin Cove, the crew reported their position to ground control and provided an estimated time of 0000 local time when vertical to Yakutat. This transmission was the last communication received from the aircraft, which disappeared shortly thereafter. ## Search and Recovery Efforts When the aircraft failed to arrive at Anchorage, search and rescue operations were initiated. Despite extensive efforts, no trace of the aircraft or its 37 occupants was located. All search operations were eventually suspended on October 31, 1951. ## Official Findings The investigation board concluded that, as no wreckage or debris was found, it was unable to determine the cause of the accident conclusively. At the time of the disappearance, weather conditions were poor, characterized by rainfall, icing conditions, and visibility limited to 500 feet.