Investigation Summary
The aircraft, serial number EW148, was a Liberator B Mk VI. While some accounts suggest it originated from the Willow Run plant, aviation records (USAAF serial 42-99800) identify it as a B-24J-15-CF built by Consolidated Aircraft at their Fort Worth, Texas factory. It was operated by No. 45 (Atlantic Ferry) Group of the RAF Transport Command. The aircraft was embarking on an extensive ferry mission to deliver the bomber to RAF units in India. The planned route following the initial leg to Gander, Newfoundland, included stopovers in the Azores, Rabat (French Morocco), Libya, Palestine, Iraq, and finally Drigh Road in Karachi. Shortly after departing Dorval Airport, the crew reported unspecified problems. The aircraft managed to clear Mount Royal but began losing altitude rapidly as it moved over downtown Montreal. Witnesses in the Sun Life Building reported seeing the aircraft flying as low as 75 meters (approximately 246 feet) above the ground. During this low-altitude flight, observers noted that portions of the tail unit and a wing appeared to separate from the airframe. The pilot narrowly avoided several landmarks, including the Windsor Station tower and the Dow Brewery chimney, before the aircraft impacted tenements at the corner of Shannon and Ottawa Streets. The crash site was approximately 15 kilometers from the departure airport. The investigation noted that wartime production demands often led to rushed construction, though the specific reason for this airframe's failure remained undetermined due to the total destruction of the wreckage.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the structural failure of the tail plane. While the exact mechanism of the failure could not be determined due to the severity of the impact and subsequent fire, investigators considered that weather conditions at the time may have had a bearing on the accident. The report also acknowledged witness accounts of the tail section detaching in flight.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Tail Plane / Empennage
The structural assembly at the rear of the aircraft providing stability and control. Witnesses saw this section fail and detach before impact.
Fuel System
The aircraft was loaded with 9,000 litres of fuel, which caused a massive explosion and a fire that burned for several hours after the crash.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was carrying 9,000 litres of fuel intended for a trans-Atlantic ferry flight.
- 02Ten civilians on the ground were killed in addition to the five crew members.
- 03The pilot was a 41-year-old veteran of the Polish Air Force who served in both World Wars.
- 04The crash destroyed or severely damaged between 10 and 15 residential homes.
- 05The aircraft was being delivered to RAF units in India via a multi-stop route across the South Atlantic and Middle East.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Structural Integrity Review
Following the crash, investigators focused on the structural failure of the tail plane. While specific modifications were not publicly detailed due to wartime censorship, the investigation highlighted the potential impact of weather conditions on airframes produced under high-volume wartime conditions.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the geocoded place name.