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Air transportation safety investigation A19C0053

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 5 November 2019.

Table of contents

Collision with terrain

Piper PA-12
Domain Lake, Ontario

View final report

The occurrence

On , a privately operated Piper PA-12 on floats, with a pilot and a passenger on board, was conducting a flight from an outpost camp at Domain Lake, Ontario, to another outpost camp at Optic Lake, Ontario. The aircraft was reported overdue at destination, and was found near the shore of Domain Lake the following day by another aircraft. The Piper PA-12 collided with terrain, and the accident caused a forest fire. Both occupants were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Media materials

News release

2019-11-05

Investigation report: May 2019 collision with terrain
Read the news release

Deployment notice

2019-05-30

TSB deployed a team of investigators to the site of a small aircraft accident near Red Lake, Ontario

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed a team of investigators to the site of a small aircraft accident that occurred near Red Lake, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence




Investigator-in-charge

Photo of Ray McNabb

Mr. Ray McNabb joined the TSB in 2015 and is a Senior Technical Investigator Air Central Region office located in Winnipeg. Mr. McNabb worked for Transport Canada Aircraft Services Directorate for 23 years. He joined Aircraft Services as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and held the position of Regional Team Lead before leaving to join TSB.

Prior to joining Aircraft Services Mr. McNabb held various positions maintaining numerous types of aircraft. Mr. McNabb has extensive experience in the Repair and Overhaul of Gas Turbine Engines and held the position of Field Service Representative which included Field Service work and troubleshooting throughout North America. He holds a valid class M1 and M2 Aircraft Engineers License and holds a Commercial pilot license with float, ski, and Multi-engine endorsements with 1700 hours of flying experience.


Photos


  Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

Class of investigation

This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 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.