Aviation investigation A12C0053

In-flight collision near St. Brieux, Saskatchewan

The occurrence

On the morning of 12 May 2012 at approximately 0845 Central Standard Time, a privately-registered Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow was approaching St. Brieux, Saskatchewan on a flight from Calgary, with a pilot and two passengers on board. Another privately-registered aircraft, a Lake LA-4, was also flying in the vicinity of St. Brieux with a pilot and one passenger on board. The aircraft collided about 8 nautical miles west of St. Brieux and fell to the ground at two main sites, about half a nautical mile apart. Both aircraft were destroyed and there were no survivors. The weather at the time of the occurrence was scattered cloud, westerly winds of 10 to 15 knots, and 15°C.

A team of investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) was deployed and arrived at the site on 13 May at 1300. The wreckage area is located in a marsh, and much of the debris was lying in water. Some of the wreckage from the aircraft were intermingled, confirming that an air collision had occurred. Marks found on the wreckage indicate that the left wings of the aircraft collided.

The investigation is led by the Investigator-in-Charge Ross Peden. As part of the first phase of the investigation, the team will recover the wreckage from the marsh to examine it. They will also review radio calls that were made in the area, interview any witnesses to the accident, and work with NAV CANADA to confirm the flight tracks and flight paths.

Ross Peden, Investigator-in-Charge

Mr. Peden has 35 years of civil aviation experience. He joined the TSB in September 2001 as a Flight Operations investigator in the TSB central region office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Prior to joining the TSB, he worked as an airline pilot for different Canadian and foreign carriers, worked for Transport Canada as an Instrument procedures specialist, followed by a period with their System Safety Branch. Since joining the TSB, Mr. Peden has participated in several TSB investigations, including the 2005 Air France accident at Pearson Airport in Toronto.

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Transportation Safety Board investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation:

1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
2. 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.
3. 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.