What happened
On 12 July 2018, a privately-owned Bellanca 8KCAB departed from the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport. During the initial climb following takeoff, the pilot issued a Mayday distress call. Following this transmission, the aircraft began a right-hand turn that progressively steepened. The aircraft subsequently transitioned into a nose-down attitude, leading to a collision with the ground in a field located roughly 500 feet west of the end of Runway 15. The impact was followed by a fire that destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the accident. The investigation focused on the flight path of the aircraft following the Mayday call and the sequence of maneuvers that led to the terrain collision.