Ontario police search for missing pilot in home-built aircraft

Authorities are searching for a 73-year-old experienced pilot, identified by the first name David, who went missing after flying a home-built aircraft in Ontario. The pilot departed from Oshawa Airport at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, and was expected to return by 9:30 a.m. that same morning.

The aircraft is described as a blue and yellow single-engine home-built plane with the letters ‘FOFZ’ on the tail. While the pilot typically flies in the area south of Kawartha Lakes and north of Lake Scugog, the aircraft’s last known location is believed to be near Balsam Lake.

Durham Regional Police are coordinating the search efforts alongside the Ontario Provincial Police and the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The pilot is described as 5-foot-7 with a slim build, black and grey hair, and a moustache.