TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 11 July 2024.
Collision with terrain
1401380 Ontario Limited (dba Wilderness North Air)
Cessna 208B Caravan, C-GMVB
Nakina Airport, Ontario, 30.8 NM NNW
The occurrence
On 28 February 2023, at approximately 1245 Eastern Standard Time, the Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft (registration C-GMVB, serial number 208B0317), operated by 1401380 Ontario Limited, doing business as Wilderness North Air, departed Nakina Airport (CYQN), Ontario, for a daytime visual flight rules flight to Fort Hope Airport (CYFH), Ontario, with 2 pilots on board.
At approximately 1445 Eastern Standard Time, the operator determined that the aircraft was overdue, as it had neither arrived at CYFH nor returned to CYQN and had not been heard from since shortly after departure. The operator reported the missing aircraft to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, which initiated an airborne search that continued until 04 March 2023 when the aircraft wreckage was found approximately 30.8 nautical miles north-northwest of CYQN.
Both pilots were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed. There was no post-crash fire. There was no emergency locator transmitter on board because it had been removed for recertification.
Media materials
News release
Loss of control led to 2023 fatal plane crash
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team to investigate a fatal aircraft accident near Nakina, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario, 6 March 2023 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a fatal accident involving a Cessna 208B aircraft that occurred on 28 February 2023 near Nakina, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A23O0028
Collision with terrain
1401380 Ontario Limited (dba Wilderness North Air)
Cessna 208B Caravan, C-GMVB
Nakina Airport, Ontario, 30.8 NM NNW
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 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.