The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 19 January 2024.
Collision with terrain
Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel de Chicoutimi
Beech Aircraft Corporation C23 Sundowner, C-GBQI
Chicoutimi/St-Honoré Airport, Quebec
The occurrence
A Beech C23 Sundowner aircraft, operated by the Cégep de Chicoutimi, was on a local training flight from the Chicoutimi/St-Honoré airport, Quebec, with an instructor and a student pilot on board.
During a simulated engine failure exercise in the Chicoutimi/St-Honoré Airport circuit, the aircraft struck some shrubs about 1300 feet from the threshold of runway 30 before crashing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but there was no fire. Both occupants were injured. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated on impact.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: Aircraft collision with terrain in Chicoutimi, Quebec
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB is deploying a team of investigators following a small aircraft accident at the Chicoutimi/Saint-Honoré Airport, Québec
Dorval, Quebec, 24 October 2022 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following a small aircraft accident that occurred on 21 October at the Chicoutimi/Saint-Honoré Airport in Québec. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A22Q0126
Collision with terrain
Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel de Chicoutimi
Beech Aircraft Corporation C23 Sundowner, C-GBQI
Chicoutimi/St-Honoré Airport, Quebec
Investigator-in-charge
Mr. Vermette is the Manager, Central Region Operations for the TSB Air Investigation Branch and is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He joined the TSB in 2014 and holds a current airline transport pilot’s license and has accumulated over 5000 hours of flight time on various jet and propeller aircraft.
Prior to joining the TSB, Mr. Vermette worked for over 13 years in civil aviation including experience as a training pilot and as a check pilot. He also has over 5 years of experience as Chief Pilot in CAR 703, 704 and 705 operations. Mr. Vermette has flown in all parts of Canada and the USA and has extensive medevac flying experience.
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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.