The Transportation Safety Board of Canada deployed an investigator to Springbank Airport in Rocky View County, Alberta, on Friday, May 16, following an accident involving a privately registered amateur-built aircraft.
In a media release issued that day, the board said it had deployed an investigator to the airport and would be gathering information and assessing the occurrence.
In the May 16 release, the board stated: "The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying an investigator to the Springbank Airport, Alberta, to investigate an accident involving an amateur built aircraft. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence."
"The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability," the release added.
DiscoverAirdrie followed up with the agency for additional details. In a May 16 emailed statement, a TSB spokesperson said the incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time on Friday, when the aircraft veered off the runway during takeoff and was "substantially damaged." Only the pilot had been on board.
The investigator had arrived on site by the time the statement was issued. The spokesperson said it was too early to determine how the occurrence would be classified and confirmed the board was still gathering information and assessing the situation.
The TSB stated it did not release personal information about individuals involved in transportation occurrences and referred further inquiries to local emergency services.
DiscoverAirdrie also reached out to the RCMP for comment, but no public updates have been issued as of Tuesday, and no injury details have been released.
Located in Rocky View County, 26 kilometres west of Calgary, Springbank Airport (YBW) is Alberta’s second-busiest airport by aircraft movements.
According to the airport’s official website, it recorded 129,674 aircraft movements in 2022 and serves as a regional hub for flight training, recreational flying, corporate aviation and charter activity. The facility operates as a reliever airport for Calgary International Airport.
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