Collision with water
Privately registered
Ultravia Pelican Sport 600 (amateur-built aircraft on amphibious floats), C-FCDB
Lake Scugog, Scugog/Charlies Landing Water Aerodrome (CHS4), Ontario
The occurrence
On 18 July 2025, a privately registered Ultravia Pelican Sport 600 amateur-built aircraft equipped with amphibious floats was conducting a local flight from Scugog/Charlies Landing Water Aerodrome, Ontario, with the pilot and one passenger on board.
During the landing, glassy water conditions were present, so the pilot remained close to the shoreline and use the landscape as a visual reference for the aircraft’s height above the water. On touchdown, the aircraft skipped on the lake’s surface. The pilot then aborted the landing and initiated a go-around. During the attempt to take off, the aircraft pitched nose-up and veered left, striking two docks before colliding with a moored pontoon boat and coming to rest inverted.
The aircraft was substantially damaged, and both occupants exited the overturned aircraft with difficulty. One person on the second dock was fatally injured. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
Photos
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.