The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 8 October 2020.
Loss of control and collision with terrain
Hawk Air (705833 Ontario Ltd.)
de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I (Beaver), C-FBBG
Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome, Ontario
The occurrence
On , at approximately 0852 Eastern Daylight Time, the float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I Beaver aircraft (registration C-FBBG, serial number 358), operated by Hawk Air, departed from the Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome, on Hawk Lake, Ontario. The aircraft, with the pilot and 1 passenger on board, was on a daytime visual flight rules charter flight. The aircraft was going to drop off supplies at an outpost camp on Oba Lake, Ontario, approximately 35 nautical miles north-northeast of the Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome.
The aircraft departed heading northeast. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb out, just past the northeast end of Hawk Lake, the aircraft crashed in a steep nose-down attitude, severing a power line immediately before impact, and coming to rest next to a hydro substation.
The pilot and the passenger received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed as a result of the impact, but there was no post-impact fire. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact, and the signal was received by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ontario.
Media materials
News release
2019 fatal floatplane crash once again highlights importance of stall warning systems
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators following an accident near Hawk Junction, Ontario
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following an accident involving a deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 floatplane, near Hawk Junction, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A19O0089
Loss of control and collision with terrain
Hawk Air (705833 Ontario Ltd.)
de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I (Beaver), C-FBBG
Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Jon Douma is a Senior Regional Investigator - Operations with the Ontario Region of the Air Investigations Branch. He joined the TSB in 2019 following 12 years in the business aviation sector, where he flew multiple jet and turboprop types and operated throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe.
Prior to business aviation, he spent several years as a flight instructor, and has maintained an interest in general aviation since then, building and flying multiple amateur-built aircraft with his grandfather.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.