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Air transportation safety investigation A18Q0094

Updated July 2018: This ongoing investigation is in the report phase.

Table of contents

Collision with runway light on landing

Baie-Comeau Airport
Baie-Comeau, Quebec

The occurrence

On the evening of , a Bombardier Dash-8-300 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation LP as JZA8964, was conducting a scheduled instrument flight rules flight from Mont-Joli to Baie-Comeau, both located in the province of Quebec. There were 3 crew members and 18 passengers on board. On that day, the width of Runway 10 at the Baie-Comeau Airport had been reduced by half (75 feet) due to construction work. Upon landing, the aircraft was aligned with the center of the runway, and the right landing gear touched down on the closed area. As the aircraft moved towards the open area of the runway, the inboard wheel of the right main landing gear struck a temporary runway light and the tire punctured. No injuries or damage was reported. There were no closed runway signs on the south end of the runway. The TSB is investigating.


Safety communications

Safety advisories

2018-07-12

Aviation Safety Advisory A18Q0094-D1-A1: Aircraft landing on the closed portion of reduced-width runways at airports where repair and maintenance work is being conducted


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence




Investigator-in-charge

Photo of Mario Boulet

Mario Boulet has over 30 years of civil aviation experience. He joined the TSB in 2015 and is now a Regional Senior Investigator based out of Dorval, Quebec.

Before joining the TSB, Mr. Boulet worked during 8 years for Transport Canada as a civil aviation safety inspector after a career in the private sector for various approved maintenance organizations, aircraft manufacturers and airlines where he occupied positions from aircraft maintenance engineer to Person Responsible for Maintenance (PRM), including Minister Delegate for a major aircraft manufacturer.

Since 2006, Mr. Boulet also became an expert in the manufacturing and operation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

Mr. Boulet holds an aircraft maintenance engineer license from Transport Canada and a private pilot license.


  Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

Class of investigation

This is a class 5 investigation. Class 5 investigations are limited to collecting data, which are then stored in the modal database. If TSB investigators deployed to the occurrence site, a short description of the occurrence is posted to the TSB website once the investigation has been completed. These investigations are generally completed within 90 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

TSB investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

  1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
  2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
  3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

For more information, see our Investigation process page.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.