Vaughan Leigh Woods (1914 - 1941)

Vaughan Woods and L.A. Prosser came to the Yukon in 1939, and Woods joined the British Yukon Navigation Company (BYN) in 1940. In 1941, Woods had 2,000 hours flying experience and in July was flying BYN’s Travelair CFT-BPV enroute to Mayo from Whitehorse. Woods radioed in that he was landing at the Fox Lake field. When nothing more was heard, Ev Wasson flew out with Dr. Roth and found Woods’ plane crashed near the Richtofen landing field just west of Lake Laberge. Woods was killed in the crash and his passenger, Tommy McKay, suffered a broken arm.1)

Four men lost their licenses after the accident. The mechanic who did the overhaul forgot to replace a cotter pin in a nut, the man who did the daily inspection didn't catch it, and the chief engineer signed for the overhaul. Ev Wasson was the head of aviation. He lost his license as well and moved back to California to operate a fruit orchard.2)

1)
Flo Whyard, “1941: Ft. Norman-to-Mayo road urged.” The Whitehorse Star (Whitehorse) 28 April 1997.
2)
Colin Beairsto, “Interviews with Gordon R. Cameron on his time in Yukon Aviation.” Prepared for Cultural Services Branch, Business, Tourism and Culture. December 2002: 6-7.