The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 2 March 2023.
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. G44 (Widgeon), C-FNGD
Stratford Municipal Airport, Ontario, 1.3 NM ENE
The occurrence
On 23 August 2022, a privately-registered Grumman G44 aircraft was on route from the Sarnia Airport, ON to the Stratford Municipal Airport, ON with the pilot being the sole occupant on board. Witnesses in a farm near the Stratford Municipal Airport observed the aircraft disappear into the clouds, and a few seconds later the plane collided with terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was consumed by fire after the impact.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: Fatal collision with terrain at Stratford Municipal Airport, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB is deploying a team of investigators following an airplane accident near Stratford Municipal airport, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario, 23 August 2022 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following an aircraft accident near Stratford Municipal airport, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A22O0125
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. G44 (Widgeon), C-FNGD
Stratford Municipal Airport, Ontario, 1.3 NM ENE
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.
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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.