RCMP have confirmed that two people were killed when a small plane crashed near Deer Lake on Saturday.
The aircraft, a Piper PA-31 Navajo registered to B.C.-based Kisik Aerial Survey, went down shortly after takeoff near the Trans-Canada Highway, about one kilometre south of Deer Lake Airport, around 5:30 p.m.
In a statement late Saturday, the company expressed condolences “to the families of the deceased.”
Then shortly after noon today, the RCMP confirmed the deaths of the two people on board: the pilot, a 54-year-old man, and the lone passenger, a 27-year-old man, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
RCMP NL confirms two deceased in fatal plane crash in Deer Lake – https://t.co/tHKUBJXGi2 pic.twitter.com/qj9sKApTUt
— RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador (@RCMPNL) July 28, 2025
Three Transportation Safety Board officials arrived in the province on Sunday to investigate the cause.
Witnesses reported seeing smoke coming from one side of the plane shortly before it crashed alongside the TCH.
It’s the second fatal crash involving a small plane on the west coast in less than a year.
It was almost one year ago, on Aug. 10th, that one person died and three others were injured when a Cessna aircraft doing work for DFO went down near Corner Brook.
