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Air transportation safety investigation A18A0053

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 20 November 2018.

Table of contents

Loss of control and collision with water

de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I (Beaver), C-FCOO
Goose (Otter Creek) water aerodrome, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

View final report

The occurrence

On , a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver aircraft was conducting float training operations on Terrington Basin near the Goose (Otter Creek) Seaplane Base, Newfoundland and Labrador, with 2 pilots on board. During the landing, the front of the left float dug in, causing the aircraft to cartwheel and flip inverted. One of the pilots found himself in the rear of the cabin and had difficulty getting out, and needed the assistance of the other pilot who had exited from the front of the aircraft and opened the rear cargo door. Both pilots were rescued by a nearby boat. The aircraft was substantially damaged.


Media materials

News release

2018-11-20

Investigation report: July 2018 loss of control and collision with water in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Read the news release


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence



Investigator-in-charge

Photo of Daphne Boothe

Daphne Boothe has over 20 years of civil aviation experience. She joined the TSB in 2013 as an operations investigator in the Atlantic Region.

Before joining the TSB, Mrs. Boothe spent 10 years flying for 703/704 operators in Northwestern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, flying scheduled and charter flights.

Mrs. Boothe holds an Airline Transport License with over 6000 hours of flying experience and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.


  Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

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

  1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.