No fatalities

Floatplane collision with floating debris near Sioux Lookout (CF-AUJ)

Sioux Lookout, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On October 3, 1940, a Fairchild 71 (registration CF-AUJ) operated by Canadian Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Sioux Lookout, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with a tree trunk upon takeoff. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine floatplane struck a tree trunk while taking off from Lost Bay near Sioux Lookout, causing the aircraft to capsize and sink without any injuries.

What happened

During a departure maneuver from Lost Bay, located in the vicinity of Sioux Lookout, a single-engine floatplane encountered an obstacle on the water surface. The aircraft collided with a tree trunk that was floating in the bay. This impact caused the plane to overturn and subsequently sink into the water. Despite the severity of the accident, there were no casualties reported among those on board.

Findings

The official investigation identified the direct cause of the incident as a collision with a floating object during the takeoff phase. The presence of the tree trunk in the flight path resulted in the loss of control and subsequent sinking of the aircraft.

Probable cause

Collision with a tree trunk upon takeoff.