The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 21 September 2023.
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Piper PA-46-350P, N5EQ
Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, 2.5 NM SW
The occurrence
A privately registered Piper PA 46-350P aircraft (with a PT6A-35 powered JetProp DLX conversion) was flying from the Sept-Îles airport, Quebec to the Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The aircraft had been given clearance to land, and upon approach struck terrain about 2.5 miles southwest of the airport along the extended centreline of runway 08. The 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter activated. The aircraft was destroyed.
An emergency response team deployed from Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing, Goose Bay.
The two occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported to the local hospital. The pilot later died of his injuries.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: Collision with terrain at Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team following an aircraft accident near Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 14 December 2022 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following today’s accident involving a Piper PA-46 aircraft near Goose Bay, NL. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A22A0067
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Piper PA-46-350P, N5EQ
Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador, 2.5 NM SW
Investigator-in-charge
Murray Hamm joined the TSB in 2010 as a Regional Senior Technical Investigator in the Air Investigations Branch at the Dartmouth office, Nova Scotia. Prior to that, he worked as a contracted employee for the 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3 CFFTS) at the Southport Aerospace Centre located near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and held the position of Fixed Wing Chief Engineer.
Mr. Hamm has more than 30 years of aviation experience and worked for several fixed wing and rotary wing operations as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He holds both an M1 and M2 license, and has also enjoyed recreational flying as a private pilot, and as a glider student pilot.
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.