Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Earthstar eGull 2000 basic ultralight aircraft
Fredericton Airport (CYFC), New Brunswick, 16 NM NW
The occurrence
On 19 July 2024, the Earthstar eGull 2000 basic ultralight aircraft was conducting a local flight from Weyman Airpark, New Brunswick.
During the flight, the aircraft was seen making several low-level turns before descending rapidly into a cornfield, coming to rest in a vertical position with the tail sticking up. The pilot was fatally injured. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
Investigation information
A24A0046
Collision with terrain
Privately registered
Earthstar eGull 2000 basic ultralight aircraft
Fredericton Airport (CYFC), New Brunswick, 16 NM NW
Investigator-in-charge
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.
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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
- 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.