Exclusive – ‘No Plane Has Been Found’: OPP Corrects Report on Missing Pilot Search
The search for a 73-year-old pilot who disappeared after leaving Oshawa Airport Friday morning has now been turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police as a missing person investigation.
Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) said Monday, August 17, that the search for the overdue aircraft had concluded after an aircraft was believed to have been located on Wolf Lake in Queen Elizabeth II Provincial Park.
“The search for the overdue aircraft has concluded,” stated Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre post on X on Monday, August 17, 2026.
“It was found on Wolf Lake, in Queens Elizabeth II Provincial Park. The case is now with OPP as a missing person’s case.”
However, OPP have clarified that no aircraft has been found.
Ontario Provincial Police Central Region Coordinator for Media Services Sgt. Joe Brisebois said only small parts have been located and investigators have not been able to confirm that they came from the missing aircraft.
“No plane has been found yet (only small parts),” Brisebois said. “We’ll share more information when we have any. At this time, we also cannot confirm that the parts are from the missing plane.”
Police are continuing to ask the public for information about the missing man, identified as David.
David left Oshawa Airport at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, in a single home-built aircraft. He was expected to return to the airport at about 9:30 a.m. but did not arrive.
He is described as 73 years old, 5-foot-7, with a slim build, black and grey hair and a moustache.
His aircraft is described as a blue and yellow single home-built aircraft.
Police say David typically flies in the area south of Kawartha Lakes Township and north of Lake Scugog. His last known location is believed to have been around Balsam Lake.
The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has been working with the OPP and Trenton JRCC in the search.
On Sunday, a C-130 Hercules aircraft was spotted several times over the Cobourg, Port Hope area.
Canadian Air Division Headquarters / Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters / Search and Rescue Region Trenton Senior Public Affairs Officer Maj Mathew Strong confirmed the aircraft spotted over the Northumberland area was involved in the search.
The search involved multiple search-and-rescue resources before JRCC announced Monday that its search had concluded.
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