The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 16 January 2020.
Controlled flight into terrain
Piper PA-46-350P, N757NY
Makkovik Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, 35 NM SE
The occurrence
On , a privately operated Piper PA 46-350P Malibu Mirage aircraft was conducting a visual flight rules flight from Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Narsarsuaq, Greenland. A pilot and a passenger were on board. Later that day, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre detected a signal from the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter. The wreckage was found on a snow covered hillside approximately 31 nautical miles north-northeast of Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador. Both occupants survived the initial impact, but one of them later died from their injuries.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: May 2019 controlled flight into terrain near Rigolet, Newfoundland and Labrador
Read the news release
Investigation information
A19A0025
Controlled flight into terrain
Piper PA-46-350P, N757NY
Makkovik Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, 35 NM SE
Investigator-in-charge
Allan Chaulk joined the TSB’s Air Investigations Branch as a Senior Investigator, Atlantic Region, in March 2019. Allan also worked at the TSB from 1999 to 2010, where he participated in many investigations, including the Swiss Air MD-11 and Cougar S-92 occurrences.
Prior to that, he worked at Transport Canada in the Airworthiness Standards department in Moncton, New Brunswick, where he worked closely with the TSB in his role of Minister’s Observer to many investigations.
In addition to his aircraft maintenance engineer licence, Allan possesses a private pilot licence. During his time off he enjoys anything related to motorsports.
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.