The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 07 January 2019.
Impact with terrain
Bellanca 8KCAB, C-GDLP
Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport, Ontario
The occurrence
On , a privately-registered Bellanca 8KCAB was conducting a flight from the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot declared a Mayday, and the aircraft entered a right-hand turn. The turn then steepened and the aircraft entered a nose-down attitude before colliding with the ground in a field approximately 500 feet west of the departure end of Runway 15. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fire and the single occupant was fatally injured.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: July 2018 collision with terrain near Deer Lake, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to an aircraft accident at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport, Ontario
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to West Nipissing, ON, following the collision with terrain of a private aircraft yesterday. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18O0096
Impact with terrain
Bellanca 8KCAB, C-GDLP
Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Ken Webster joined the TSB team in 2005, and works as Manager, Regional Operations out of the Ontario office. Mr. Webster has been investigator-in-charge in numerous TSB investigations, and assisted in several others, involving airplane, helicopter and air traffic control. Prior to the TSB he worked in civil aviation for 20 years, in several different capacities. As a pilot, Mr. Webster has flown numerous aircraft types throughout Canada and the US.
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.