The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 23 January 2019.
Stall and collision with terrain
Clayton Air Service
Cessna A188B AGtruck (crop sprayer), C-GMXO
Carrot River, Saskatchewan, 3.5 nm E
The occurrence
On , a Cessna A188B aircraft operated by Clayton Air Service was reported overdue by ground personnel and was later found in a wooded area, 8 nautical miles east of Carrot River, Saskatchewan. It had just completed a series of flights which involved applying fungicide to a flax field, east of Carrot River, and was en route to the operator's mobile operations base at Arborfield, Saskatchewan. The aircraft had collided with terrain and trees and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The single occupant was fatally injured. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: July 2018 stall and collision with terrain near Carrot River, Saskatchewan
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to a small aircraft accident site near Arborfield, Saskatchewan
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following a fatal small aircraft accident near Arborfield, Saskatchewan. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18C0064
Stall and collision with terrain
Clayton Air Service
Cessna A188B AGtruck (crop sprayer), C-GMXO
Carrot River, Saskatchewan, 3.5 nm E
Investigator-in-charge
Ross Peden has 35 years of civil aviation experience. He joined the TSB in September 2001 as a Flight Operations investigator in the TSB central region office in Winnipeg Manitoba. Prior to joining the TSB, he worked as an airline pilot for different Canadian and foreign carriers, which included a 4 year stint in Sudan Africa and 3 years in Paris France. During that time, he flew different aircraft types, starting on small bush aircraft and eventually finishing commercial career on large jet aircraft. In 1996 he joined Transport Canada, as an Instrument procedures specialist, followed by a period with what was then called system safety.
Since joining the TSB, Mr. Peden has participated in several TSB investigations, including the 2005 Air France accident at Pearson Airport in Toronto.
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.