6 Group Unavailable
Dakota aircraft 962 took off at Minot, North Dakota at 0930 hours CST 15 September 1946 and proceeded to Estevan, Saskatchewan, arriving at approximately 1015 hours CST. The aircraft was without fore and aft control aside from the slight amount available from the use of the trim tab.
The pilot of 962 decided to attempt a landing at Estevan at 1015 hours and carried out a normal or possibly a bit wider than normal circuit with the wheels down at approximately half flap until the aircraft was at the down-wind end of the runway at an approximate altitude of 75 feet. The aircraft then levelled out and commenced to climb. After climbing approximately 100 feet, the aircraft levelled out momentarily and then commenced to climb again with the wheels retracting. The second climb was very steep and was maintained until the aircraft stalled, dropped the port wing, and dove vertically into the ground and exploded on impact.
It appears that the pilot filed his flight plan by radio AFTER taking off from Minot (most unusual) and that there was no further radio communication from Dakota 962. It was speculated that the pilot knew the condition of his elevator almost immediately after take off but maintained control through use of trim tabs and elected to continue to Estevan, to effect a landing with a slightly reduced fuel load.
The unit is No. 124 (Fy ) Squadron as opposed to Communications as indicated in a number of sources
The pilots had already ferried the Cornells to Estevan and were heading back to R.C.A.F. Station Rockcliffe when the Dakota Mk. IIIN accident occurred.
At the time of the unfortunate flying accident, No. 124 (Fy) Squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader E. A. Bland AFC, was part of the Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 9 (T) Group.
Twenty RCAF pilots and one ground crew man were killed
