Robinson R44 accident near Buttonville, Ca, September 25, 2018
On September 25, 2018 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered CGMCT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Buttonville. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
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
- September 25, 2018 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buttonville, Canada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- CGMCT · no longer on the register · serial 10795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 25, 2018, about 1800 hours universal coordinated time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, Canadian registration C-GMCT, impacted terrain while diverting due to deteriorating weather conditions near the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport (CYKZ), Buttonville, Ontario, Canada. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed from the North Bay Airport (CYYB), North Bay, Ontario, Canada. The intended destination was CYKZ.The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). This report is solely for informational purposes and contains only information provided by the government of Canada. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada Place du Centre -- 4th Floor 200 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, Quebec Canada K1A 1K8 Telephone: 819-994-3741 Website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca Email: communications@tsb-bst.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
- VFR encounter with IMC during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.