Air transportation safety investigation A22C0027
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 14 November 2022.
Table of contents
Loss of control and collision with terrain
Privately registered
Piper Cherokee PA-28-140, C-GLKD
Sioux Lookout Airport, Ontario, 19 NM SSE
The occurrence
On , a Piper PA-28-140 aircraft departed Dryden Regional Airport, ON, on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Marathon Airport, ON. The aircraft was reported overdue at 5:39 am UTC. A Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) mission subsequently found the aircraft substantially damaged; it had collided with terrain approximately 20 NM southeast of Sioux Lookout, ON (CYXL). The 4 occupants of the aircraft were fatally injured.
Media materials
News release
Investigation Report: Fatal collision with terrain near Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Read the news release
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Ross 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, which included a 4 year stint in Sudan Africa and 3 years in Paris France. During that time, he flew different aircraft types, starting on small bush aircraft and eventually finishing commercial career on large jet aircraft. In 1996 he joined Transport Canada, as an Instrument procedures specialist, followed by a period with what was then called system safety.
Since joining the TSB, Mr. Peden has participated in several TSB investigations, including the 2005 Air France accident at Pearson Airport in Toronto.
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.