A search for a missing pilot that began last Friday came to a tragic end as authorities found the pilot deceased inside his submerged small aircraft in the Kawartha Lakes region, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. The discovery of aircraft wreckage in Wolfe Lake at Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park was made on Monday, with the plane itself located underwater in the lake on Tuesday.
The deceased pilot, identified as David, aged 73, had departed from Oshawa Executive Airport in a homemade aircraft at 8:30 a.m. and was expected to return by 9:30 a.m. When he failed to return, family members reported him missing to the Durham Regional Police. His last known whereabouts were in the Balsam Lake vicinity near Kirkfield.
The search and recovery efforts involved various agencies, including the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the City of Kawartha Lakes detachment, in collaboration with other organizations. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources also played a crucial role in locating the aircraft and the pilot.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. They have dispatched a team of investigators to the Minden Hills area in Ontario to examine the accident involving the privately registered small plane.
The pilot, known by his first name only, was described by Durham police as an experienced aviator who typically flew in the region south of the municipality of Kawartha Lakes and north of Lake Scugog. The Ontario Provincial Police expressed condolences to the pilot’s family and acknowledged the public’s support and assistance during the search operation.