The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 27 February 2019.
Visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather and collision with terrain
Mooney M20D, C-FESN
Revelstoke, British Columbia, 26 nm NE
The occurrence
On , a privately registered Mooney M20D aircraft was conducting a flight from Penticton, British Columbia, to Edmonton/Villeneuve Airport, Alberta, with 2 persons on board. The aircraft was last seen on radar in a controlled descent near Revelstoke, British Columbia. The aircraft was reported overdue at the destination airport. A search was initiated, and was discontinued by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre after 9 days. The aircraft was found on 10 September 2018.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: November 2017 collision with terrain near Revelstoke, British Columbia
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to examine aircraft wreckage found in Rogers Pass, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia, 14 September 2018 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Rogers Pass, British Columbia, where the wreckage of a Mooney M20 aircraft missing since November 2017 was found. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A17P0170
Visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather and collision with terrain
Mooney M20D, C-FESN
Revelstoke, British Columbia, 26 nm NE
Investigator-in-charge
Chris Johnston joined the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) in 2015 as a Regional Senior Investigator in the Air Investigations Branch, at the Pacific regional office in Richmond (British Columbia).
Mr. Johnston has more than 24 years' experience in civil aviation as a pilot and as an aircraft maintenance engineer. He holds an airline transport pilot licence (helicopter) with approximately 7000 hours' flight time as well as M1 and M2 aircraft maintenance engineering licences. Just prior to joining the TSB, Mr. Johnston worked as a company safety officer and quality assurance manager. He has also owned and operated a small helicopter charter company in British Columbia, where he held the position of Operations Manager, Chief Pilot, and Director of Maintenance.
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.