Occurrence
On 15 November 2025, at approximately 10:57 Eastern Standard Time, two aircraft operated by Cornwall Aviation (1979) Ltd. collided mid-air near the Cornwall Regional Airport, Ontario. The aircraft involved were a Cessna 172N and a Piper PA-44-180.
Following the collision, the Cessna 172N, with the pilot as the sole occupant, descended uncontrolled and impacted terrain in a forested swampy area. The aircraft was destroyed. There was no post-impact fire, and the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter did not transmit a detectable signal. The pilot of the Cessna 172N was fatally injured.
The Piper PA-44-180, with two occupants on board, was significantly damaged but remained controllable and landed safely at the Cornwall Regional Airport. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is investigating.
Investigation Progress
As of February 2026, initial examinations of both aircraft have been completed. The involved pilots, eyewitnesses, first responders, aircraft owners, and regulatory personnel have been interviewed. Relevant operational, maintenance, and training documentation have been obtained.
Radar data was received by the TSB Laboratory and used to reconstruct the flight path. The radar data and reconstructed flight path data indicate that the two aircraft crossed flight paths multiple times before the collision. At the time, instrument flight training and visual flight training were being conducted in the same area. One aircraft was conducting a flight test with an examiner on board.
Examination Areas
The investigation is examining how training and testing activities were planned, coordinated, and deconflicted. Both aircraft were operated by the same flight training unit. Training practices, airspace usage, scheduling, traffic awareness, and see-and-avoid considerations are being examined.
Additionally, the ELT from the Cessna 172N did not produce a detectable signal; the ELT installation, activation, and signal transmission are being examined. No safety communications have been issued at this stage.