C-FISM Noorduyn Norseman VI
(c/n 269)
This aircraft had been
repatriated back to Canada in July 1973 from Australia where it had
labored since the end of WW II as VH-BHG,
VH-GSB, VH-RHG and VH-GSG
respectively.
Several months
elapsed before it was issued with a Canadian CofA since the log records
were
deemed to be incomplete when it
arrived. It was eventually registered to Grand Rapids Air of
St. Norbert, Manitoba as CF-ISM C-FISM
(as it was
then) crashed at on take off at Witchai
Lake, Man
on 16 June 1978. The
pilot lost control shortly after take off and struck the water
in a
nose down attitude. One passenger was
drowned. Much was made at the time of
unapproved mods made to the
wing struts whilst
the aircraft was in Australia which, although
affecting
the flight
characteristics
somewhat, were probably less influential in its demise than the
gross
weight at which the take
off had been attempted! The shot above, by Phil Hansen, was
taken at Selkirk, Manitoba
in August 1976.