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A pilot who has been missing since Friday has been found dead after searchers discovered his small aircraft underwater in the Kawartha Lakes region this week, Ontario Provincial Police say.
In a news release Wednesday, the OPP says aircraft debris was recovered from Wolfe Lake in Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park, northwest of Peterborough, Ont., by crews on Monday and the aircraft itself was found submerged in the lake on Tuesday.
Searchers have confirmed that the pilot was dead, police said. A plan to recover the plane is being organized, police said.
The pilot, identified as David, 73, was reported missing after failing to return to Oshawa Executive Airport on Friday morning. He had left the airport in a home-built plane at 8:30 a.m. and was expected to return at 9:30 a.m., according to Durham Regional Police. He was last seen in the Balsam Lake area near Kirkfield.
The pilot had reported missing by family members, police said.
An extensive search was undertaken by the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, which coordinates air and marine search and rescue operations across Ontario, along with the OPP and members of its City of Kawartha Lakes detachment, and other agencies.
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources helped to find the aircraft and the pilot, police said.
“The OPP extends its sincere condolences to the pilot’s family and loved ones and thanks members of the public who provided information, support and assistance throughout the search effort,” police said.
Circumstances surrounding the crash are being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), a federal agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline and rail incidents.
The TSB said it’s deploying a team of investigators near Minden Hills, Ont., to investigate an accident involving a privately registered small plane.
Durham police had identified the pilot by first name only and had said he was an experienced pilot who usually flew in the area south of the municipality of Kawartha Lakes and north of Lake Scugog.
