The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 12 February 2016.
Collision with terrain
Manan Air Services (dba Atlantic Charters)
Piper PA-31 Navajo, C-GKWE
Grand Manan, New Brunswick
The occurrence
The Atlantic Charters Piper PA-31 (registration C GKWE, serial number 31-7812037) aircraft had carried out a MEDEVAC flight from Grand Manan, New Brunswick, to Saint John, New Brunswick. At 0436 Atlantic Daylight Time, the aircraft departed Saint John for the return flight to Grand Manan with 2 pilots and 2 passengers. Following an attempt to land on Runway 24 at Grand Manan Airport, the captain carried out a go-around. During the second approach, with the landing gear extended, the aircraft contacted a road perpendicular to the runway, approximately 1500 feet before the threshold. The aircraft continued straight through 100 feet of brush before briefly becoming airborne. At about 0512, the aircraft struck the ground left of the runway centreline, approximately 1000 feet before the threshold. The captain and 1 passenger sustained fatal injuries. The other pilot and the second passenger sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed; an emergency locator transmitter signal was received. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness.
Media materials
News release
Lack of visual references contributed to fatal August 2014 aircraft collision with terrain in Grand Manan, New Brunswick
Read the news release
Deployment notice
Transportation Safety Board of Canada deploys team to fatal air accident on Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 16 August 2014 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, where a Piper PA31 was involved in a fatal accident. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A14A0067
Collision with terrain
Manan Air Services (dba Atlantic Charters)
Piper PA-31 Navajo, C-GKWE
Grand Manan, New Brunswick
Investigator-in-charge
Doug McEwen joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) in April 1998 as a regional investigator - Technical in the TSB's Pacific regional office in Richmond, British Columbia.
Prior to joining the TSB, he worked as an aircraft maintenance engineer. During that time, he was involved in the maintenance and modification of a variety of aircraft, primarily in the aerial application business.
Since joining the TSB, Mr. McEwen has participated in a number of major investigations, including Swissair 111, MK Airlines, Air France and Cougar 491.
In 2001, he transferred to the TSB's Engineering Branch in Ottawa where he was involved in various air, marine, pipeline, and rail regional investigations.
Since 2008, Mr. McEwen has been a senior regional investigator - Technical at the Atlantic regional office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 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.