The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 11 October 2022.
Collision with obstacle on approach
Brantford Flying Club
Cessna 172RG, C-GOFD
Brantford Aerodrome, Ontario
The occurrence
A Cessna 172RG registered to the Brantford Flying Club departed runway 29 at the Brantford Airport, Ontario, for a local visual flight rules (VFR) flight. A licensed private pilot, who had rented the aircraft, was the sole occupant. After a brief flight to the west, the pilot returned and entered the circuit for runway 29. During final approach, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree. The aircraft yawed significantly to the left and entered a spin before crashing in an adjacent field. The pilot was fatally injured. There was no post-crash fire, and the ELT had been activated.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: March 2022 fatal collision with terrain in Brantford, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB is deploying a team of investigators following a collision with terrain at the Brantford Airport, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario, 22 March 2022—The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following a collision with terrain of a Cessna 172RG aircraft at the time of landing that occurred yesterday at the Brantford Airport, Ontario, yesterday. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A22O0032
Collision with obstacle on approach
Brantford Flying Club
Cessna 172RG, C-GOFD
Brantford Aerodrome, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Jon Douma is a Senior Regional Investigator - Operations with the Ontario Region of the Air Investigations Branch. He joined the TSB in 2019 following 12 years in the business aviation sector, where he flew multiple jet and turboprop types and operated throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe.
Prior to business aviation, he spent several years as a flight instructor, and has maintained an interest in general aviation since then, building and flying multiple amateur-built aircraft with his grandfather.
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.