N7031C / Airway #111 / Bu# 53484

Early History

United States Navy. TBM-3E. Construction #: 3546.

Airway Inc, Yakima, WA
#111 N7031C 1963-1970

Aerial Spray Program – NB, Newfoundland
1968 – Flew probably in NB and Newfoundland, based on the caption on the slide (see figure below). Both provinces undertook extensive spraying operations that year. 1969 – Flew in Newfoundland and NB. Pilot Roberts.

1970 – Flew out of Chipman NB. Pilot Charles Gunns. Crashed 21 June 1970, St. Martins, NB, at 0745 AM. After a reported oil leak and an attempt to reach Saint John airport, the TBM was seen to go out of control after starting a swath run, crash in timber and burn. Pilot Gunns (age 48), from Yakima, WA, was killed. The aircraft was on its way to Upper Blackville, NB, the site of the Dunphy Airstrip. [FPL report, Forest Spraying Operations – 1970] St. Martins is located on the Bay of Fundy in St. John County, southern NB. The US NTSB Report references the Canadian report (CAN714A905).

The Department of Transport accident card states this: “A/c had been airborne about 25 mins and was engaged in spraying trees, accompanied by two other a/cs. Smoke was seen coming from N7031C and the cockpit was also filled with smoke. A/c climbed from tree level to 2000′ the began a shallow descent until it collided with trees and crashed into the woods finally bursting into flames.”