Occurrence
On April 14, 2022, a privately registered Piper PA-24-250 (Piper Comanche 250) took off from Delhi Aerodrome, Ontario, on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Marathon Airport, Ontario. The aircraft was occupied by two private pilots. When the pilots did not report their arrival at Marathon Airport, NAV CANADA initiated steps to locate the overdue aircraft.
Search Efforts
The last known position of the aircraft was approximately 15 nautical miles south of Wawa Airport, Ontario. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) took over the search, employing several aircraft and helicopters over the next 10 days, in addition to ground searches.
Wreckage Discovery
The wreckage was eventually found on May 21, 2022, in a densely forested area. The location was consistent with the last known position.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) conducted a class 4 investigation, which is limited in scope. Such investigations typically do not include findings or recommendations and are generally completed within 220 days. The investigation report describes the occurrence as a fatal collision with terrain near Wawa, Ontario. No analysis or causal factors were released due to the limited nature of the investigation.