Harrowing air traffic control audio analyzed by CBC News unveils the tense moments preceding a small plane’s crash-landing close to a Toronto high school on Monday night. The audio recording initiates with routine interactions as the pilot seeks clearance to land at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
However, the situation escalates rapidly when the pilot urgently reports a potential engine failure to the air traffic control operator. “City centre, I think I might have an engine failure,” the pilot conveys in a recording available on LiveATC.net.
Upon being asked if the aircraft can reach the airport, the pilot responds negatively. Subsequently, the pilot informs the air traffic control operator that there is no suitable landing spot available.
In a distressing turn of events, the pilot indicates that the plane will land in a soccer field, expressing concern about the presence of people in the vicinity. This marks the final communication before the radio goes silent.
Following this, air traffic control and emergency responders coordinate efforts to locate the plane near Bloor Street, approximately two kilometers from the Don Valley Parkway.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the incident, which occurred after the plane, departing from Orillia, encountered engine failure en route to Billy Bishop airport. Despite the crash outside Monarch Park Collegiate Institute in Toronto’s east end, the pilot and two passengers emerged unscathed, as confirmed by Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop.
The surrounding park and soccer field remained unharmed, with classes at Monarch Park expected to resume as usual, albeit with a section of the parking lot cordoned off, as per Ryan Bird, spokesperson for the Toronto District School Board.
Flight Club CEO Mathew Fernandez described the incident as a “forced approach” caused by mechanical, human, or atmospheric factors. The aircraft involved is associated with Flight Club, a company that leases privately-owned planes to pilots.
Flight Club co-founder Ehsan Monfared emphasized the pilot’s responsibility for safety inspections before flight, while owners oversee maintenance tasks. Monfared highlighted the necessity for pilots to swiftly respond to engine failures in single-engine aircraft.
Pilots must undergo rigorous tests with certified flight instructors before accessing an aircraft, ensuring their capability to assess safety conditions and perform critical flight manoeuvres. Monfared stressed the stringent qualifications required for pilots flying the Piper Cherokee.
Keith Mackey of Mackey International noted the limited landing options for the pilot, praising her skill in avoiding harm to individuals on the soccer field. The ongoing TSB investigation aims to ascertain the cause of the engine failure, including examining fuel availability as a crucial factor.
