Investigation Summary
The aircraft, a Douglas DC-6B named 'Empress of Buenos Aires', was operating a multi-stop domestic route from Vancouver to Whitehorse. Approximately 47 minutes after takeoff, while en route to its first stop in Prince George, a low-velocity explosion occurred in the rear of the aircraft. The force of the blast was sufficient to sever control cables and structural components, causing the entire tail assembly to detach. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the tail separate and observing debris, which was later identified as passengers being ejected from the cabin due to explosive decompression. The main fuselage, now aerodynamically unstable, entered a steep left-hand spiral before impacting the forest floor and being consumed by a post-crash fire. The tail section was recovered relatively intact approximately 500 metres from the main wreckage site.
Final Conclusions
A coroner's inquest and subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that the crash was caused by an explosive device foreign to the aircraft. Investigators found traces of potassium nitrate, carbon, and acid in the aft lavatory area, consistent with a bomb made of gunpowder or stumping powder. The RCMP investigation focused on four passengers: a gambler who purchased significant life insurance before the flight, a mining explosives expert with a criminal record, a man with a history of mental instability who reportedly carried a gun, and a loner with an interest in gunpowder. However, due to the destruction of evidence and the death of all potential perpetrators in the crash, the case remains the largest unsolved mass murder on Canadian soil. The mystery was re-examined in 2018 by the CBC true crime podcast 'Uncover' (Season 2: Bomb on Board), which brought modern investigative scrutiny to the cold case.
Video Analysis
Bomb on Board: Podcast investigates B.C. plane crash 5 decades later — CBC News: The National explores the 1965 bombing of Canadian Pacific Flight 21, investigating the forensic evidence and the four primary suspects in this cold case.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Aft Lavatory
The site of the bomb placement; the explosion here caused immediate structural failure of the rear fuselage.
Interesting Facts
- 01The explosion created a metre-wide hole in the fuselage and severed critical tail pipes and bulkheads.
- 02The tail section was found 500 metres away from the main wreckage and was not affected by the post-crash fire.
- 03Investigators identified the explosive as a 'low-velocity' substance, likely gunpowder or stumping powder.
- 04The crash site remains marked by twisted wreckage and scorched earth near Dog Creek, BC.
- 05Four specific passengers were identified as persons of interest, but no definitive link to the bomb was proven.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Security Review
The incident highlighted the extreme lack of passenger and baggage screening in the 1960s, contributing to later implementations of more rigorous security protocols for domestic flights.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Unsolved Mass Murder
Reference ↗Despite the identification of four 'persons of interest' with potential motives or access to explosives, the RCMP never named an official suspect or laid charges. The lack of a definitive perpetrator or motive has led to decades of speculation and remains a significant point of contention in Canadian criminal history.