Bad Day in NWONT

kingeddie · Post by **kingeddie** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:30 pm

I was flying north of Thunder Bay Today and came across a Herc searching for a 206 from cushing lake .. Unfortunately I just picked this of TB news

Body recovered from downed plane
Tb News Source
Web Posted: 10/12/2007 5:21:57 PM
The body of the pilot has been recovered from an aircraft that crashed into Kearns Lake Thursday evening.

Late Thursday evening Thunder Bay OPP received a report from a hunting party in the area that a plane went down about two hours north of the city.

Fifteen members of the OPP emergency response team, joined by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and a Hercules aircraft from Trenton began a search of the area.

OPP located a submerged airplane late Friday morning and divers recovered the body of a male, the lone occupant of the plane.
The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Kearns Lake is located between Highways 527 and 81, to the west of Gull Bay.

RIP

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:43 pm

CADORS Number: 2007O2230 Reporting Region: Ontario

Occurrence InformationOccurrence Type: Accident Occurrence Date: 2007/10/11
Occurrence Time: 2200 Z Day Or Night: night-time
Fatalities: 1 Injuries: 0

Canadian Aerodrome ID: Aerodrome Name:
Occurrence Location: Kearns Lake Province: Ontario
Country: CANADA World Area: North America

Reported By: Transportation Safety Board AOR Number:
TSB Class Of Investigation: TSB Occurrence No.: A07C0189
Event InformationOverturn
Aircraft InformationFlight #:
Aircraft Category: Aeroplane Country of Registration: CANADA
Make: CESSNA Model: U206F
Year Built: 1973 Amateur Built: No
Engine Make: TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL Engine Model: IO-520-D
Engine Type: Reciprocating Gear Type: Sea
Phase of Flight: Unknown Damage: Substantial
Owner: THOUSAND LAKES AIRWAYS LTD Operator:
Operator Type: Private

Detail InformationUser Name: Donaldson, John
Date: 2007/10/12
Further Action Required: Yes
O.P.I.: System Safety
Narrative: Initial information received from T.S.B. Initial Notification (#A07C0189): The privately-operated, float-equipped Thousand Lakes Airways Ltd. Cessna U206F aircraft was transporting hunters in the area of Kearns Lake, ON, when it went overdue. A search was organized and the aircraft was located mostly submerged (a portion of one wing was above water) in Kearns Lake. Divers and T.S.B. investigators have been dispatched to the site. The pilot was fatally injured.

Note that when I searched the CADORs, I found that this was not the only pilot who lost his life in Canada yesterday ...

CADORS Number: 2007Q2462 Reporting Region: Quebec

Occurrence InformationOccurrence Type: Accident Occurrence Date: 2007/10/11
Occurrence Time: 2005 Z Day Or Night: day-time
Fatalities: 1 Injuries: 0

Canadian Aerodrome ID: Aerodrome Name:
Occurrence Location: Près du lac Sicotte (461004N/7403W) Province: Quebec
Country: CANADA World Area: North America

Reported By: NAV CANADA, CACO, SAR AOR Number: 86550-V3
TSB Class Of Investigation: TSB Occurrence No.:
Event InformationCollision with terrain
ELT/SAR/comm search
Missing aircraft
Aircraft InformationFlight #:
Aircraft Category: Helicopter Country of Registration: CANADA
Make: ROBINSON Model: R44
Year Built: 2003 Amateur Built: No
Engine Make: AVCO LYCOMING Engine Model: O-540-E4B5
Engine Type: Reciprocating Gear Type: Land
Phase of Flight: Unknown Damage: Destroyed
Owner: HELIBEN INC. Operator:
Operator Type: Private

Detail InformationUser Name: Porlier, Nathalie
Date: 2007/10/12
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: General Aviation
Narrative: Un hélicoptère Robinson R-44 de propriété privée effectuait un vol selon les règles de vol à vue (VFR) entre Mont-Tremblant/St-Jovite (CSZ3) et St-Félix-de-Valois. À 2005Z, une personne avise le centre d'information de vol (FIC) de Québec que l'aéronef était porté manquant. Des recherches par moyens de communication ont été effectuées. Le Centre de recherche et sauvetage de Trenton (TR RCC) a été avisé et a pris la relève des recherches. Un signal de radiobalise de détresse (ELT) a été capté vers 2218Z par le satellite de recherche et de sauvetage (SARSAT) dans le secteur du Lac Paré et un Hercules a été assigné pour patrouiller ce secteur. L'appareil a été localisé à 0827Z le lendemain par le Centre de recherche et sauvetage de Trenton, près du lac Sicotte, situé au sud de Notre-Dame-de-la-Merci. L'appareil a été détruit. Le pilote, seul à bord, a subi des blessures mortelles.

My deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the pilot in each of these tragedies. I "trust" the officials will determine ALL the links in the chain which resulted in these fatalities, and provide closure to the loved ones.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:04 pm

"The privately-operated, float-equipped Thousand Lakes Airways Ltd. Cessna U206F aircraft was transporting hunters in the area of Kearns Lake, ON, when it went overdue."

hmmmmm

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:10 pm

Privately operated by something called "Thousand Lake Airways". How do you get a private "airway"?

mum · Post by **mum** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 9:44 pm

snoopy wrote:"The privately-operated, float-equipped Thousand Lakes Airways Ltd. Cessna U206F aircraft was transporting hunters in the area of Kearns Lake, ON, when it went overdue."

hmmmmm

Please.....allow a little more respect for the deceased and the sensitive nature of our chosen occupation (airplanes crash, and unfortunately a pilot may be hurt or killed), and at least some time for the next of kin to be notified before we begin to assume that everything we read in these preliminary reports is correct. If this information is correct, then maybe we can learn from it PRIVATELY........not smear the company on this forum for all to see........who cares about the "technical" aspects of the operation at the time of the accident..........this region has lost another fellow aviator, who loved doing what we're doing, or were doing. Your post disgusts me, Snoopy!!!
My sincere condolences to the family.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:07 am

I flew for Thousand lakes airways about a gazzilion years ago and remember Kearns lake well. It could get quite rough with some wind blowing. At that time we used a 185 and a Nordyne and the ownership has changed since then.

Shitty indeed.

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:00 am

Veteran bush pilot dies in float-plane crash
By CARL CLUTCHEY
Friday, October 12, 2007

Northwestern Ontario bush pilots and resort operators are mourning a gentleman of the airways following a float-plane crash on a remote lake northeast of Thunder Bay.
Family and friends believe the body of veteran pilot Ron Gibson was found Friday afternoon when police and military searchers located the submerged aircraft on Kearns Lake.
Police, who did not release the name of the dead pilot, said there was no one else on board.
“He was a fantastic pilot,” Upsala businessman Jeff Prochnicki, a friend of Gibson, said Friday.
“He was semi-retired but, because of his stature, he continued to fly people in (for fishing) because he was a person people could trust.”
The soft-spoken Gibson, believed to be in his mid-60s, operated Thousand Lakes Airways on Cushing Lake, a bay of Lac des Mille Lac west of Thunder Bay.
Police and military searchers were notified around 9:30 p.m. Thursday that a float plane had gone down somewhere between Thunder Bay and Armstrong following a report from some hunters about a possible crash.
The downed plane was spotted just before noon Friday. Military divers dropped to the scene after parachuting from a Hercules search aircraft.
“Divers were able to confirm that the submerged plane was the reported overdue float plane, and that the pilot was the lone occupant at the time of the crash,” said a Thunder Bay OPP news release.
There was no word Friday as to what caused the plane to hit the water.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada inspectors were to be at the crash scene some time today, added the release.
Friends remembered Gibson as a generous person who liked to share his birds-eye view of the rugged Northwest.
“He came by one time and gave us a ride,” recalled Lac des Mille resort owner Angie Legros.
“My (ailing) husband was in a wheelchair at the time, so it was a bit of a chore to get him in the plane.”
“But (Gibson) flew us all around the lake, which was a treat for my husband because he was a pilot himself.”

BTD · Post by **BTD** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:18 am

I relayed a message from the Herc to centre that night. Was hoping for the best.

My condolences to the families.

BTD

FROIN · Post by **FROIN** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:45 pm

all the best to the family, this is a sad day for aviation in NWONT

kingeddie · Post by **kingeddie** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:27 pm

Snoopy you really should be ashamed of yourself Ron was fixture flying out of Lac Des Mille Lac 20 years ago when I started flying around here and who knows how long before that . And as far as I know the outposts in that area such as Kearns are owned and serviced by the air service on cushing lake . We put these posts on here out of respect If your turn comes I hope everyone pays you the same courtesy you show others.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:11 pm

kingeddie,
Before you get all wound up making unfounded accusations, I simply pointed out what was stated in the CADORS. The other aircraft in the company fleet were commercially registered, that one was not. I made no statements for or against the company or the pilot. If you choose not to question what you read, that is your right.
Cheers,
Snoopy

Hot Fuel · Post by **Hot Fuel** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:54 pm

What difference does it make how the aircraft was registered? Perhaps I’m wrong, but I’m reading into the comments about how it was registered as a suggestion that flying a hunting party in a privately registered aircraft is somehow outside the regulations. As you should all know as long as there is no direct payment for hire of the aircraft you can do almost whatever you like in a private aircraft.

My condolences to the friends and family, I’m saddened to hear about your loss.

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:38 pm

Hot Fuel wrote:... you can do almost whatever you like in a private aircraft.

Just because some of us see this as potentially problematic, does not detract from the concern and care we feel for those greiving. I wish someone had told ME what to question two and a half years ago, instead of leaving it to me to figure out in the throws of grief.

Hornblower · Post by **Hornblower** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:27 am

Hot Fuel wrote: As you should all know as long as there is no direct payment for hire of the aircraft you can do almost whatever you like in a private aircraft. .

Not quite;
Quote from A.A.

"any payment, consideration, gratuity or benefit, directly or indirectly charged, demanded, received or collected by any person for the use of an aircraft"

In any case, Mr. Gibson could have been transporting himself and friends on a hunting trip, receiving nothing but gratitude and friendship. It is sad and unfortunate that this has happened.

It can happen to even the most experienced of us, ... so keep your head up.

Demosthenes · Post by **Demosthenes** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:13 am

learned a lot from Ron years ago...

RIP guy..

D.

kingeddie · Post by **kingeddie** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:49 am

[color=#0000FF]Edited[/color]

The End

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:09 am

Your respectful comments are duly noted.

tbay · Post by **tbay** » Fri May 06, 2011 9:52 pm

I know that this is 3.5 yrs since this was posted BUT, as I was doing some work online I came across this post in a search, and was so urked that I needed to post

SNOOPY, I am a family member of the pilot who was flying the Thousand Lakes Airways aircraft. Here are the facts....

1. No hunting party was being flown in. He was chartering an other air service his last summer to bring in his clients...no hunters were in his plane.

2. It was a friend, who was also a carpenter, that he flew to his outpost to do some work for him. It was after dropping him off that his plane went down, when he was solo in the aircraft.

3. As you stated, question what you read, but you swallowed your own foot by accepting certain info and commenting on it and being somewhat passive aggresive with your little HMMMmmm comment.

I know time has passed, but perhaps in the future just remember, when an incident happens, several stories and accounts flood in and it takes some time for the true facts to surface as speculation and assumptions can run rampant in the initial days and hours. I hope in the future you will be more educated and repectful in your responses and posts when these unfortunate accidents occure. The last thing family members want are their loved ones to be remembered or portrayed as unhonorable when they were highly respected and truely talented, passionate, and highly experienced pilots

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat May 07, 2011 7:28 am

JayVee · Post by **JayVee** » Sat May 07, 2011 8:22 am

Xsbank, how dare you tell a family member of the deceased to "get over it." What a F@(king slob you are.
Karma will bite you.

Close your eyes now for this one...

My sincere condolences to you tbay. I met Ron once many years ago while doing a trip for his company. He was a gentleman.

Beefitarian · Post by **Beefitarian** » Sat May 07, 2011 8:37 am

XS, dude! They make quite few decaffs now, one should be ok, no?

Investigator · Post by **Investigator** » Sat May 07, 2011 8:52 am

tbay wrote:1. No hunting party was being flown in. ... no hunters were in his plane.

2. It was a friend, who was also a carpenter, that he flew to his outpost to do some work for him. It was after dropping him off that his plane went down, when he was solo in the aircraft.

I was involved in investigating this occurrence. These two statements are correct.

xsbank wrote:The accident rate has not changed in any meaningful way since the dawn of aviation.

This statement is ridiculously incorrect. TSB stats show that the Canadian accident rate in 1989 was 12.9/100,000 hours, and in 2009 was 5.9/100,000 hours. See http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/stats/aviation/1998/a98_1.asp and http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/stats/aviation ... p#figure_1.

I submit that cutting the accident rate in half is indeed meaningful.

Prairie Chicken · Post by **Prairie Chicken** » Sat May 07, 2011 9:45 am

Thanks for setting the record straight Investigator. Sometimes it's really worthwhile on here.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Sat May 07, 2011 10:20 am

Investigator, from your own statistics, the air taxi/aerial work fatalities average 12 per year and last year they hit 9. The first date was 1989. One year they were 18. I stand by my comments.

How many have we lost this year so far? Subtract those from the 9 - 12 to go, I figure.

I read the second set of stats: fatalities from all types of A/C from 2000 to 2009: 65 59 51 60 37 55 52 49 51 64.

The average might be declining but that includes aerial work, which is getting safer (yay) and airlines, which I think is not material to this discussion.

tbay · Post by **tbay** » Sat May 07, 2011 10:33 am

xsbank wrote:Get over it. There will be, oh, 10 more deaths this summer. Many who die will be "doing what they love," some will be trying to cheat some rule and get caught, some will merely be unlucky. Suck it up, its what happens in this industry. The accident rate has not changed in any meaningful way since the dawn of aviation. The accidents are repeated year after year, the victims optimistically go to work every day and those of us who object to this butcher's bill get shouted down and accused of being insensitive. The aircraft that we all use are obsolete and inappropriate for the task, are impossible to get out of in a crash and protect us worse than a rusty old Civic. Some of us get annoyed by these deaths. Some of us have lost friends and family and would like to see this change.

By the time all the PC crowd finally takes over this site and those of us who object to this sad part of the industry and refuse to be sheep finally shuffle off in disgust, you will all be able to sing Kum-bye-ya around the cyber campfire, will be afraid to think, to comment or to question the status quo; go ahead and mourn the newly-dead while this site becomes just another job-hunting site with advertisements.

In fact, I object to this site becoming a wailing wall for the dead. Let's prohibit 'condolence' messages as being inappropriate to an aviation site - our job is to stop the carnage and to fix the problems with our industry. The only way we can do that is to talk about it and try and make changes. The only way to truly be "sorry for your loss" is to stop the next pilot from biting it. One day we will be able to truly be proud of this industry for how professional it is - one day we will say "look at the positive changes we have been able to bring about" or "ever since we banned the 206, the death rate from float-plane accidents has plummeted."

NO MORE CONDOLENCES! (ps, its spelled 'irked').

Perhaps you should slow down and reread my post.... I was correcting incorrect statements. I would assume that you would want facts to represent you, or those that you know instead of false statements that could smear your business or person. In terms of the rest of your post.. "Get over it" well I'll let your attitude speak for its self.

Yes fatalities happen alot. I've spend many years working in war zones and have seen many lives lost in downed aircraft and other. It is an unfortunate fact and the numbers need to decrease, though in some of these threads remember, you may not know what the cause of the crash was.. mechanical, pilot error, weather, or a health issue, either way the rates are still too high. But due to the nature of this industry and the number of deaths that occur annually, having and showing respect to those who have passed is what true professionals do, show and have for one another.

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