The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 21 September 2018.
Collision with water
Cessna 150J, C-FHPU
Goderich, Ontario
The occurrence
On 20 September 2017, a privately operated Cessna 150J aircraft was conducting a round trip training flight, under visual flight rules, between the Brampton-Caledon airport and Goderich, Ontario, with two persons on board. The aircraft was last observed on radar at 0036 UTC (2036 EST) at an altitude of 1800 feet, approximately 1 nautical miles east of the Goderich municipal airport. It was later located in Lake Huron, submerged and heavily damaged. The two occupants were fatally injured. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: September 2017 collision with water near Goderich, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB will deploy a team of investigators following small aircraft accident in Goderich, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario, 22 September 2017 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will deploy a team on Saturday 23 September 2017 to the site of a small aircraft accident that occurred on 20 September 2017 in Goderich, Ontario.The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A17O0209
Collision with water
Cessna 150J, C-FHPU
Goderich, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Ken Webster joined the TSB team in 2005, and works as Manager, Regional Operations out of the Ontario office. Mr. Webster has been investigator-in-charge in numerous TSB investigations, and assisted in several others, involving airplane, helicopter and air traffic control. Prior to the TSB he worked in civil aviation for 20 years, in several different capacities. As a pilot, Mr. Webster has flown numerous aircraft types throughout Canada and the US.
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
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.