Ontario Provincial Police announced that a pilot who had been missing since last Friday was tragically found deceased after search teams located his small aircraft submerged in Wolfe Lake in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, northwest of Peterborough, Ontario. The discovery of aircraft debris on Monday led to the recovery of the submerged plane on Tuesday. The pilot, identified as 73-year-old David, had departed from Oshawa Executive Airport in a home-built aircraft at 8:30 a.m. and was scheduled to return by 9:30 a.m. When he failed to return, family members reported him missing. The last known location of the pilot was in the Balsam Lake area near Kirkfield.
Authorities confirmed the pilot’s death and are coordinating efforts to retrieve the plane from the lake. The search and rescue operation involved the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the Ontario Provincial Police, including the City of Kawartha Lakes detachment, and other collaborating agencies. Additionally, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources played a crucial role in locating the aircraft and the pilot.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. A team of investigators is being deployed near Minden Hills, Ontario, to probe the accident involving the privately registered small plane. The pilot, known only by his first name, was described by Durham police as an experienced aviator who frequently flew in the southern Kawartha Lakes area and north of Lake Scugog.
The Ontario Provincial Police expressed their condolences to the pilot’s family and appreciated the assistance provided by the public during the search effort.