A pilot reported missing since last Friday has tragically been discovered deceased as search teams located his small aircraft submerged in the Kawartha Lakes area this week, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
The OPP announced in a press release on Wednesday that remnants of the aircraft were retrieved from Wolfe Lake in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, situated northwest of Peterborough, Ontario. Subsequently, the aircraft itself was found submerged in the lake on Tuesday.
Law enforcement confirmed that the pilot had passed away, and arrangements are being made to retrieve the plane.
The pilot, identified as David, 73 years old, was reported missing after he failed to return to Oshawa Executive Airport on Friday morning. Departing the airport in a self-constructed plane at 8:30 a.m., he was scheduled to return by 9:30 a.m., as per Durham Regional Police. His last known location was in the vicinity of Balsam Lake near Kirkfield.
Family members reported the pilot missing, according to police statements.
A widespread search effort was conducted by the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, in collaboration with the OPP, members of its City of Kawartha Lakes detachment, and various other agencies to locate the pilot and the aircraft.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources assisted in locating both the pilot and the aircraft, police confirmed.
The OPP expressed heartfelt condolences to the pilot’s family and acknowledged the public’s support and assistance during the search.
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Crews find plane in Kawartha Lakes region as search for missing pilot continues
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Police search for missing pilot believed to have flown small plane over Kawartha Lakes, Ont.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), a federal agency responsible for probing air, marine, pipeline, and rail accidents.
TSB has dispatched a team of investigators to the vicinity of Minden Hills, Ontario, to examine the accident involving a privately registered small aircraft.
Durham police had only disclosed the pilot’s first name and mentioned he was a seasoned pilot who typically flew in the area south of the municipality of Kawartha Lakes and north of Lake Scugog.