Piper PA38 accident near Peterborough, Ca, August 11, 2016
On August 11, 2016 at about 5:20 am local time, a Piper PA38, registered CFSYH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Peterborough. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2016 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Peterborough, Canada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA38 112 · all PA38s on the register
- Registration
- CFSYH · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0889
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 11, 2016, at 0520 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA-38-112, Canadian-registered C-FSYH, was damaged when it struck several metal poles during a forced landing near Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Markham Airport (CNU8), Markham, Ontario, Canada. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Canadian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Canadian government or the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Hull, Quebec K1A 1K8 Canada Tel.: (1) 819-994-4252 (1) 819-997-7887 (24 hour) E-mail: airops@tsb.gc.ca Fax: (1) 819-953-9586 Website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNU8 Markham at 4:50 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 am from CYPQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.