FERGUS, ONTARIO, CANADA — Two experienced pilots were killed on Friday, October 9, 2026, when an amateur-built Steen Skybolt biplane crashed during a local aerobatic training flight near Fergus, Ontario. The aircraft came to rest inverted in a cornfield and caught fire, according to information released by Canadian authorities.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) reported that the aircraft departed Fergus (Juergensen Field) Airport at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time with two experienced pilots aboard. The aircraft crashed a short time later, approximately two kilometres from the airport.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that emergency personnel were dispatched at approximately 10:15 a.m. to a field near the intersection of Beatty Line and Wellington Road 17, north of Fergus in Centre Wellington Township.
Responding agencies included Wellington County OPP, the Centre Wellington Fire Department, and Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Services. The aircraft had caught fire following the impact, but emergency responders successfully extinguished the flames.
Police subsequently confirmed that both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. No additional injuries were reported. Authorities had not publicly identified the deceased pilots in the reports available as of October 11.
The Aviation Safety Network identifies the accident aircraft as a Steen Skybolt bearing Canadian registration C-GLXA and manufacturer serial number OL001. ASN also identifies the aircraft as an amateur-built example constructed by Lawrence A. Olson. These registration and construction details are drawn from ASN’s occurrence entry rather than an independently verified TSB identification.
The Steen Skybolt is a two-seat, aerobatic-capable biplane design commonly constructed by individual builders. The TSB described the accident flight as a local aerobatic training operation, but has not publicly established which manoeuvre, if any, was being performed immediately before the accident.
The aircraft reportedly came to rest upside down following the crash. Investigators have not released a determination concerning the aircraft’s altitude, airspeed, flight path, mechanical condition, or pilot control inputs before impact.
The TSB announced on October 9 that it was deploying investigators to the accident site to collect information and assess the occurrence. Investigators will continue gathering and analyzing evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Police remained at the site into Saturday, October 10, with specialized resources assisting the response. The OPP reported that its personnel had cleared the area shortly after noon Saturday.
Although the flight involved aerobatic training, the purpose of the flight alone does not establish the cause of the accident. Any conclusion involving an aerobatic manoeuvre, loss of control, structural failure, or another potential factor would be premature without investigative findings.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is an independent agency responsible for investigating transportation occurrences and advancing safety. Its investigations are intended to determine contributing factors and identify safety deficiencies rather than assign criminal or civil liability.
ASX News will continue following the investigation and will update this report as verified findings become available.
Sources
Transportation Safety Board of Canada — October 9, 2026 deployment notice
Ontario Provincial Police statement, published by GuelphToday — October 10, 2026
Global News — October 10, 2026