The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 04 December 18.
Collision with terrain
Champion 7GCAA, C-FXTJ
Deer Lake, West Nipissing, Ontario
The occurrence
On , a privately owned float-equipped Champion 7GC46.4981416 aircraft took off from Deer Lake, West Nipissing, Ontario with two persons on board. The aircraft was observed to be following the perimeter of the lake at low altitude when it pitched nose up and the wing dropped. The aircraft entered into a spin and impacted wooded terrain in a steep nose-down attitude. A fire erupted after the impact and both occupants were fatally injured.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: July 2018 collision with terrain near Deer Lake, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to Lake Nipissing following a collision with terrain of a private light aircraft
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to West Nipissing, ON, following the collision with terrain of a private aircraft yesterday. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18O0093
Collision with terrain
Champion 7GCAA, C-FXTJ
Deer Lake, West Nipissing, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Peter Machete began in aviation in 1977, joining the Canadian Aviation Safety Board, the precursor to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), in November 1985.
Mr. Machete left the TSB in May 1996 to go back to the airline industry, and returned to the TSB in May 2003. During his time away, Peter performed maintenance audits on airlines and did insurance surveyor work. He undertook various familiarization courses on several aircraft types and he has numerous license endorsements.
Peter also completed courses in safety management systems for airlines, aircraft retrieval, aircraft performance and structures, and advanced rotary wing investigations.
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.