Aircraft Photo

Family seeks public assistance after 73-year-old pilot David Douglas departed Oshawa Executive Airport Friday morning and did not return as expected.

TORONTO, ON, CANADA, August 15, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- An urgent public appeal is underway for information that may help locate David Douglas, 73, who has been missing since departing Oshawa Executive Airport (CYOO) at 8:32 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Douglas was flying north on a local flight in a light blue and yellow amateur-built aircraft. He was expected to return to Oshawa but did not return as expected and has not been located.

The aircraft is described as an amateur-built, experimental, single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft with a light blue fuselage and yellow accent striping along the side. Douglas was the only person on board.

The search is focused on areas including Scugog, the Kawartha Lakes, Balsam Lake, Sturgeon Lake and Cameron Lake.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE URGENTLY NEEDED

Anyone who was in the area on Friday morning is being asked to think back to whether they saw or heard a small aircraft flying unusually low, or heard an aircraft engine change pitch or stop.

Particular assistance is being sought from boaters, anglers and cottagers on Lake Scugog, Balsam Lake, Sturgeon Lake and Cameron Lake; marina operators and Trent-Severn lock station staff; pilots and personnel at Oshawa Executive, Lindsay, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes Municipal airports; and property owners throughout the corridor.

Residents, businesses and visitors in these areas are also being asked to check and preserve dashcam, trail-camera and security-camera footage from Friday, August 14, particularly footage recorded during the morning.

Even a brief image or observation of an aircraft may help search authorities narrow the search area.

Anyone who saw or heard an aircraft matching this description, noticed an aircraft flying unusually low, or has potentially relevant camera footage is asked to call 911 immediately.

Anyone who locates or believes they may have located the aircraft should not approach it. Call 911 immediately. Approaching a wreckage site can pose a safety risk and may disturb evidence needed by searchers.

SEARCH INFORMATION

Search authority for missing civil aircraft in Canada rests with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton.

Ground jurisdictions across the probable search corridor include Durham Regional Police Service for Oshawa and Scugog and the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Family representatives are available for media interviews.

Photographs of David Douglas and the aircraft have been cleared for publication and broadcast.

News organizations are asked to publish 911 as the public reporting number for sightings and potentially relevant information.

Media Contact:

Nadine Spencer
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, BrandEQ Agency
Managing media for the family
416-708-0521
nadine@brandeq.com

Public sightings and information:
Call 911 immediately.

Nadine Spencer
BrandEQ Agency | Media Representative, David Douglas Family
+1 416-708-0521
email us here