Backyard History: The night a plane crashed into a kitchen

On the night of June 23, 1941, a single-engine Travel Air monoplane crashed into the kitchen of the Seeley family home in Havelock, New Brunswick. The aircraft, piloted by Donald Whitworth and Ed Pangburn, was transporting newsreel film from New Jersey to Halifax when it ran out of fuel.

The pilots had experienced delays earlier that day due to a misunderstanding regarding new passport requirements at the border. After being cleared to enter Canada, the pair attempted to reach Moncton to refuel. According to reports from the time, the pilots were unable to establish radio contact with the Moncton airport, which officials later suggested may have been due to the aircraft using the incorrect frequency.

Low on fuel and lacking parachutes, the pilots attempted to land after spotting lights they believed to be the Moncton airport. In reality, they were in Havelock, and the lights belonged to the Seeley farmhouse. After clipping a tree and landing in a field, the aircraft struck a rock pile and collided with the residence.

Charles Seeley, who was inside the home with his family, discovered the aircraft in his kitchen after being awakened by the impact. The Seeley children, Mona and George, were asleep on the second floor directly above the crash site and were unharmed. Pilot Donald Whitworth and co-pilot Ed Pangburn also survived the incident, with Pangburn sustaining minor injuries.

Following the crash, the Moncton Transcript reported that the aircraft was to be transported to the United States to be scrapped. The Seeley family relocated to a neighbor’s home while the pilots prepared to return to New Jersey. The incident was documented at the time by reporter J.E. Belliveau, who noted that the family viewed the event as an opportunity to renovate their home.

Article and image source: tj.news