CF-IMQ / Wheeler #500 / Bu# 53558

Early History

United States Navy. General Motors TBM-3. Construction #: ?.
Royal Canadian Navy. Delivered to RCN 13 May 1950, SOC 30 Jan 1958. Flew as #365.

RCN 53558 — RCN Avenger BuNo 53558. Posted by Barrie MacLeod to ‎TBM’s – Mil & Civil on 23 August 2018.

Wheeler Airlines, St. Jean, Quebec
#500 CF-IMQ 1958-1958

Fire Suppression – NB
1958 – Converted to sprayer, painting, etc., by Fairey Aviation, Dartmouth, NS. Firebombing as part of a fleet of 6 Wheeler and 6 Skyway TBMs.

Crashed 10 June 1958 on takeoff at right side of takeoff runway at Juniper, NB. Pilot J.T.J. (Ted) Zys (of the RCN Reserve) was unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed and junked. The back of the Department of Transport card reads: “Right wing dropped just after take-off and dragged runway causing swing to the right and collision with sand pile. Accident caused by take-off stalled condition, aggravated by the frost on wings and possible encounter with slipstream from preceding aircraft.” The card also lists the date as 10 June, not 1 June as previously reported here.