A Transportation Safety Board investigation into the deadly crash that killed two people earlier this year revealed the plane had struck a tree during take-off from the private air-strip.
On August 13, 2022 the private registered Piper aircraft (Cherokee) began its take-off roll on a private air-strip in Canton heading to a destination in Ottawa with the pilot and one passenger on board.
The report by the TSB stated, “shortly after becoming airborne, when the aircraft had travelled approximately 1400 feet down the runway and was at a height of approximately 26 feet above ground level, the left wing struck a tree located approximately 40 feet to the left of the runway centreline.”
A witness said the aircraft was seen to veer to the left before disappearing from view.
“The aircraft then struck multiple additional trees before colliding with terrain, and came to rest approximately 220 feet to the left of the runway centreline.”
The aircraft struck the ground in a nearly vertical, nose-down attitude; the nose and right wing impacted the ground first, followed by the lower right side of the fuselage. The right wing was nearly separated from the aircraft, and had folded back along the right side of the fuselage. The engine was displaced significantly to the left of the fuselage centreline, and the left wing was relatively undamaged by the ground impact. There were signs of tree strikes along both wing leading edges, the most significant of which was on the outboard leading edge of the left wing, approximately 2 feet inboard from the wing tip
Both occupants were wearing safety belts with shoulder harnesses, but were fatally injured.
https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2022/A22O0118/A22O0118.html
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
