Disaster on Mount Slesse: The Story of Western Canada's Worst Air Crash

by Betty O'Keefe, Ian MacDonald

Mount Slesse, a jagged 2,500-metre peak near Chilliwack BC known locally as "The Fang," lived up to its evil reputation on December 9, 1956, when Trans Canada Airlines Flight 810 slammed into it, killing all 62 aboard. For five months nobody knew what happened. Flight 810 had just disappeared into the night. Adding to the sensation was the fact that the flight carried five professional football players fresh from the CFL All Star game in Vancouver and a mystery man by the name of Kwan Song who was rumoured to be carrying a sizeable fortune in cash. Finally on May 10, 1957, a diminutive female mountaineer named Elfrida Pigou discovered the gruesome crash site, setting off a stampede of macabre treasure hunters. It wasn't until May 25, 1995, that the BC government placed a protective zone around the debris field, declaring it a Heritage Wreck Site. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of this historic tragedy, Betty O'Keefe and Ian Macdonald have written a gripping, blow-by-blow account of western Canada's worst aviation disaster, carefully examining its context, causes and aftermath.

Genres: History

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Mikeila Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books ever. I grew up looking at this mountain, and wondering what secrets it held. Once I found out about the crash when I was older, I just needed to know more. This book goes into very good detail about the entire event, and includes pictures. I have read this book many times, and it’s very hard to put down.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about a plane crash in the mountains of British Columbia in the 1950s. It provides interesting insight into the efforts taken to find the plane initially and efforts, once the plane was found, to recover the bodies in a very harsh and dangerous environment. It is an example from the early days of emergency response.

It was also interesting to see the efforts taken by the Canadian government to prevent desecration of the crash site by souvenir hunters. The discussion is something you do not see in most books about disasters.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that clearly depicts a major tragedy in Canadian aviation. She goes to all length to enlighten the reader how the effects of the crash have effected people directly and indrectly related up to 50 years later. It is an amazing account and I look forward to reading many more books by her and Ian Macdonald

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book about the plane crash in British Columbia that killed multiple people, including some Canadian Football League All Stars.

[Gwyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but not particularly detailed. More photos, diagrams, and/or maps would have helped to tell the story. The few photos included weren’t very good.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. Gives a well-rounded look at the events surrounding what is a famous airline crash in the local area, as well as the legacy it left behind.