The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 19 February 2019.
Loss of control and collision with water
Georgian Bay Airways
Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C1 Bush Hawk-XP, C-FKNS
Lake Muskoka, Ontario
The occurrence
On , a Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C1 aircraft equipped with floats, operated by Georgian Bay Airways, departed the Billy Bishop Water Aerodrome in Toronto, Ontario, destined for the Parry Sound Harbour. During low level maneuvering in the Lake Muskoka area, the aircraft struck the water, then cartwheeled and sank. The two occupants received minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: July 2018 collision with water on Lake Muskoka, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to a floatplane accident in Lake Muskoka, Ontario
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to an air accident involving a Found FBA-2C1 Bush Hawk floatplane in Lake Muskoka, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18O0107
Loss of control and collision with water
Georgian Bay Airways
Found Aircraft Canada FBA-2C1 Bush Hawk-XP, C-FKNS
Lake Muskoka, Ontario
Investigator-in-charge
Murray Hamm joined the TSB in 2010 as a Regional Senior Technical Investigator in the Air Investigations Branch at the Dartmouth office, Nova Scotia. Prior to that, he worked as a contracted employee for the 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3 CFFTS) at the Southport Aerospace Centre located near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and held the position of Fixed Wing Chief Engineer.
Mr. Hamm has more than 25 years of aviation experience working for several fixed wing and rotary wing operations as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He has also enjoyed recreational flying as a private pilot, and as a glider student pilot.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
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.