The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 23 March 2021.
Loss of control and collision with terrain at night
Cargair Ltd.
Cessna 172M, C-GSEN
Racine, Quebec
The occurrence
At 2103 Eastern Daylight Time on , the Cargair Ltd. Cessna 172M aircraft (registration C-GSEN, serial number 17264779) departed Montréal International (Mirabel) Airport, Quebec, for a night visual flight rules flight to Sherbrooke Airport, Quebec, and back. The pilot was alone on board. At 2147, when the aircraft was approximately 19 nautical miles northwest of Sherbrooke Airport, it encountered instrument meteorological conditions and disappeared from radar. The wreckage was found on 07 September 2019 in a heavily wooded area near Racine, Quebec. The aircraft had struck trees and had been destroyed by impact forces. The pilot received fatal injuries on impact. There was no post-impact fire. No signal was detected from the emergency locator transmitter.
Media materials
News release
Fatal accident near Racine, Quebec, highlights risks of flying under visual flight rules in deteriorating weather at night
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators following an accident near Racine, Quebec, on 4 September
Dorval, Quebec, 7 September 2019 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the scene of a fatal accident involving a Cessna 172 aircraft that occurred on 4 September 2019, recently found near Racine, Quebec. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A19Q0153
Loss of control and collision with terrain at night
Cargair Ltd.
Cessna 172M, C-GSEN
Racine, Quebec
Investigator-in-charge
Isabelle Langevin joined the Air Investigation Branch at the TSB regional office in Dorval, Quebec as an Investigator Operations (Air) in September 2015. During her career, Ms. Langevin worked as a flight instructor before working as a pilot mainly in Nunavik (Northern Quebec) flying DHC- 6, King Air and Dash 8. In 2006, she joined Nav Canada as an instrument procedures design specialist and as principal analyst. From 2008, she held various positions at Transport Canada including that of Technical Team Lead, Flight Operations. Ms. Langevin has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
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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.