The pilot of a small plane radioed 鈥淚 might have engine failure鈥 to the Billy Bishop air traffic control tower before the aircraft crashed landed in Toronto鈥檚 east end Monday night.
Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed Tuesday that engine failure caused the plane鈥檚 crash in Monarch Park. The aircraft carrying three passengers had departed from Orillia, Ont., before it came down near around 8:15 p.m. It was en route to Billy Bishop 海角社区官网City Airport, the TSB added.
The plane collided with a chain-link fence during a soccer match at the field near Monarch Park Collegiate. No injuries were reported.
People had been playing on the field at the time of the crash but no injuries were reported.
Sophie BouquillonAccording to an , the pilot contacted the Billy Bishop control tower at 8:11 p.m. Monday, indicating they聽were looking to land there and asked if it was possible to first do a lap around the CN Tower. The control tower directed them to remain north of the airport.
Less than two minutes later, the pilot was back on the radio: 鈥淎h, City Centre, I think I might have an engine failure.鈥
鈥淐an you make it to the airport?鈥 asked the controller.
鈥淣别驳补迟颈惫别.鈥
When asked if there was anywhere to land, the pilot responded: 鈥淚’m not exactly seeing anywhere to land here.鈥
The air traffic controller then asked if there was a highway, or street or a park that wasn’t busy. The pilot responds: 鈥淚 am looking.鈥
The control tower said to others on air that the plane was over Bloor Street, east of Don Valley Park. Then the pilot declared, 鈥淚’m waiting at a soccer field. There are people though.鈥
鈥淥K, can you maybe find a gap with no people?鈥 the controller suggested.
There was no response from the pilot.
It is too聽early to determine what caused the engine failure but investigators have been interviewing witnesses and the passengers who were on board, the TSB said.
海角社区官网Fire Services confirmed that its hazmat team responded to the incident due to a potential fuel leak from the plane, which was later reported to have been contained.
鈥淲e got very lucky tonight,” 海角社区官网Fire Chief Jim Jessop told media at the scene Monday night. “The plane crashed into the fence. As you can see the trees behind me, it appears to me that it came through the trees and then landed on the ground and skidded into the fence.
鈥淲e got very lucky tonight,” 海角社区官网Fire Chief Jim Jessop told media at the scene Monday night. A hazmat unit from the fire services responded to the crash.
Sophie Bouquillon“I am happy to report there are no injuries to the occupants of the airplane and no injuries to the civilians who were playing soccer on the field 鈥 as you can see, the game continues.”
Classes at聽Monarch Park Collegiate continued as normal on Tuesday.
In addition to the school, the area also includes聽an off-leash dog park and several lowrise apartment buildings.聽
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said a small plane crash in 海角社区官网that dodged a Monday evening sports game was caused by an engine failure. The Piper Cherokee aircraft bound for Toronto's Billy Bishop airport crash landed just after 8 p.m. (Sept. 16, 2025)
The Canadian PressOn Tuesday morning the plane lay in a corner, surrounded by the warped chain-link fence and roped聽off with yellow caution tape. Spectators climbed a slope towards the fence line to get a better view of the cordoned-off area where the wrecked plane remained.
Jesse Laine, a resident in the neighbourhood, was on his way to the playground with his two toddlers when he decided to check out the crash scene. He was at home when the plane crashed and said his wife heard “really loud engine” noises Monday night.
“I was about a hundred metres away. It could have landed on me,” said one witness.聽
Shortly after, sirens could be heard ringing through the neighbourhood.
“It’s very fortunate,” Laine said, noting that the plane crashed just before the field where people were playing soccer.
The plane will be removed from the park Tuesday afternoon, the TSB said.
A plane, matching the call numbers C-FXGC of the downed plane, is registered to the online Flight Club Life website for rental at $121 an hour.
海角社区官网police and fire services respond to an airplane that crashed near the Monarch Park soccer field in 海角社区官网on Monday night.聽
Steve Russell/海角社区官网StarThe Piper Cherokee PA28-140 four-seater is described on the site as a “great time builder, based Downtown 海角社区官网CYTZ (Billy Bishop airport), with the best view in the city!”
It goes on to say they are seeking pilots that will “consistently fly.聽25 hour block times required.聽$250 for insurance costs (1 year).”
With files from Asma Sahebzada and Janet Hurley
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