383

c/n 383

C-FMAJ with Jackson Air Services, at Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Photo: Bill Jackson © date unknown - Karl E. Hayes Collection

c/n 383

UB655 • 4655

C-FMAJ

• UB655 Union of Burma Air Force. Delivered 23-Sept-1960.

• 4655 Re serialled after change of country name to Myanmar. Date unknown. Operated with Transport Squadron at Mingaladon AFB.

1985. Withdrawn from service and put into storage.

1989 Purchased by Trevor Ross, Vancouver, BC.

• C-FMAJ Jackson Air Services Ltd., Flin Flon, MB. 27-Feb-1990. Canx 12-Aug-2015.

Accident. Stevens - Nicklin Lake, MB. 02-Aug-2000. During initial climb, at about 80 feet, the aircraft began to descend, despite the application of full engine power, and it settled into the trees. The occupants were not injured by the crash, but sustained minor injuries exiting the aircraft. Destroyed in post crash fire.

• C-FMAJ Removed from Canadian Civil Aircraft Register 13-Aug-2015.

• Destroyed •

Otter 383 was delivered to the Union of Burma Air Force on 23rd September 1960 with serial UB655. The Air Force took delivery of nine Otters, three in December 1958 and a further batch of six in 1960/1961. All were packed into crates and shipped to Burma where they were re-assembled and entered service. Burma was subsequently re-named Myanmar. Its Air Force aircraft were re- serialled, adopting Burmese numerals, equivalent of the old serial with a '4' prefix and deleting the 'UB'. Thus, UB655 became 4655, depicted on the side of the aircraft in Burmese numerals. The Burmese Otters were withdrawn from service in 1985 and stored. In 1989 six of the Burmese Otters were purchased by Mr Trevor Ross of Vancouver. Five were located at Mingaladon Air Base and one at Hmawbi Air Base. All six were shipped to Vancouver where they were stored in the Aeroflite Industries hangar at the International Airport and offered for sale. They had arrived by early December 1989.

Otter 383 was sold to Jackson Air Services Ltd .,of Flin Flon, Manitoba to whom it was registered C-FMAJ in February 1990. After more than ten years of service with Jackson Air Service, it was destroyed in an accident on 2nd August 2000. The Otter was departing from an outpost camp at Stevens-Nicklin Lake, Manitoba with a pilot, two camp employees and some camp equipment on board. The local temperature was 27C and the aircraft was near its maximum gross weight. The camp was being evacuated because of the threat of a nearby forest fire. During initial climb, at about 80 feet, the aircraft began to descend, despite the application of full engine power, and it settled into the trees. The occupants were not injured by the crash, but sustained minor injuries exiting the aircraft. The Otter, alas, was destroyed by the impact with the trees and a post crash fire. It was reported that the aircraft had a headwind in proximity to the forest fire on take off, and that it had flown into the area of a tailwind during the initial climb.