No fatalities

Seaplane Crash in Senneterre Due to Low Approach (CF-BSG)

Senneterre, CanadaLanding (descent or approach)

On November 3, 1949, a Noorduyn Norseman (registration CF-BSG) operated by Gold Belt Air Service was involved in an aviation accident near Senneterre, Canada during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude during the approach phase led to a collision with treetops. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A seaplane struck treetops during approach to Senneterre, resulting in a crash with no reported casualties.

What happened

During the final approach phase toward Senneterre, the pilot failed to recognize that the aircraft was flying at an altitude lower than required for safe clearance. As a result, the seaplane made contact with the tops of trees. This impact caused one of the floats to be sheared off the airframe.

Following the loss of the float and the subsequent aerodynamic disruption, the aircraft entered a stall. The plane then descended uncontrolled and impacted the ground, coming to rest in a crashed state. Despite the severity of the structural damage and the collision with vegetation, there were no casualties reported among those on board.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude during the approach phase led to a collision with treetops.