Stock photo of a Cessna 172, the aircraft which crashed north of Martintown following a mid-air collision. Ethan Currier on Unsplash Courtesy Photo
SOUTH GLENGARRY – On Sat., Nov. 15 the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a mid-air collision involving two small planes.
The report was received shortly after 11:00 a.m., and officers responded to a wooded area north of Martintown in South Glengarry.
One airplane involved, containing two persons, landed safely at the Summerstown/ Cornwall Regional airport while the other was subsequently located in a wooded area north of Martintown, close to County Road 25 between Chapel Road and Concession Road 1.
The pilot, the lone occupant in the aircraft, was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was later identified as a 28-year-old male from L’ile Bizard, Quebec.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) were notified and upon their arrival took charge of the investigation. Their initial findings revealed that the mid-air crash involved a 172 Cessna and a Piper Seminole aircraft. Both planes were owned by Cornwall Aviation, a flight school which operates out of the Summerstown /Cornwall Regional airport.
A Facebook post from Cornwall Aviation at 6:58 p.m. on Nov. 15 spoke of how difficult the day had been.
“Today was a very difficult day for our aviation community. Nothing can prepare you for such tragedy. Many have reached out with thoughts and comfort and we appreciate every one of you. At this time we would ask that your thoughts be with the family of those directly affected and the days to come for them.
“Thank you to all of the first responders, police, search and rescue, and neighbours that were selflessly doing everything possible during this difficult time.
“We will ask for strength for all affected for the coming days to help navigate through the healing process, as well as the respect of privacy to allow those to find peace and balance once again.”
Personnel from the TSB were expected to remain in the area probably until early in the week.
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.
