ROSETOWN, Sask. — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is reporting a pilot has died in a small-aircraft collision near Rosetown.
At approximately 9:50 a.m. on Aug. 25, an Air Tractor AT-502B operated by Precision West Ag Corp. (doing business as Provincial Airways), collided with terrain approximately 15 miles northeast of Rosetown during an aerial application flight.
The aircraft was substantially damaged. RCMP and local EMS attended scene.
RCMP confirmed earlier that the pilot was fatally injured.
TSB investigators were expected to be on scene at approximately 11 a.m. on Aug. 26 where they will be documenting the site, gathering additional information, and investigating the accident.
This is not the company's first incident involving an aircraft collision.
On July 19, 2024, an Ayres S2R-R1340 aircraft operated by Precision West Ag Corporation departed Rosetown Aerodrome to conduct an aerial application flight over a field near Birsay.
After the first application pass of the field, the aircraft collided with the flat terrain, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft. There was no post-impact fire, and the emergency locator transmitter activated.
The pilot was fatally injured in the crash. The TSB investigated the incident.
There are three 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.
According to the TSB, 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.
