The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has appealed to the public for help locating two missing Oshawa men: a 73-year-old pilot who departed Oshawa Airport on Aug. 14 and a separate 68-year-old vulnerable male last seen in central Oshawa on Aug. 16.
Search for pilot began after scheduled return did not happen
Police say the 73-year-old pilot left the Oshawa Airport at about 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 14 in a single, home-built aircraft and was expected to be back by 9:30 a.m. The pilot, identified in police releases only by his first name, is described as a 5 ft. 7 in. man of slim build with black-and-grey hair and a moustache.
The aircraft has been described by investigators as a blue and yellow single, home-built plane. DRPS said the pilot typically flew in an area south of Kawartha Lakes township and north of Lake Scugog. The last known location of the aircraft is believed to be around Balsam Lake.
DRPS said it is coordinating the search with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. Police have released photographs of the aircraft and of the missing man to assist with identification.
Separate search for vulnerable man in Oshawa's core
In a separate matter, police are seeking information about a 68-year-old vulnerable male from Oshawa who was last seen at about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 near the intersection of Simcoe Street North and Taunton Road East. The man, named only by his first name in police notices, is described as white, slim, with white or grey hair. He was wearing a blue T-shirt, beige shorts and sandals at the time.
- Missing pilot: 73 years old, left Oshawa Airport at ~8:30 a.m. Aug. 14, blue-and-yellow home-built aircraft; last believed near Balsam Lake.
- Missing vulnerable man: 68 years old, last seen ~12:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Simcoe St. N and Taunton Rd. E; blue T-shirt, beige shorts, sandals.
How the public can help
DRPS is asking anyone with information about either man’s whereabouts to contact their local police service or the Durham Regional Police Service Central West Division Criminal Investigations Branch. The contact numbers provided by police are:
| Enquiry | Phone |
|---|---|
| Central West Division Criminal Investigations Branch | 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1805 |
| For information on the missing vulnerable male | 905-579-1520 ext. 1705 |
Police have released images and descriptions as part of the public appeal and said partner agencies are assisting with search operations. DRPS has not released surnames in its public notices.
Local context and implications
Oshawa sits in a varied landscape where urban neighbourhoods meet rural lake country; the pilot’s typical flight area south of Kawartha Lakes and north of Lake Scugog spans waterways, cottage country and a mosaic of small communities where locating a small, privately built aircraft can be challenging. The involvement of the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre indicates the search effort extends beyond routine ground checks and involves regional air and marine search resources.
For families and neighbours in Oshawa, the cases underline how quickly a routine trip can become a multi‑agency search. Community vigilance — checking cottages, marinas, shoreline areas and informal landing sites — can be important, especially when aircraft are small and flights are local in scope. Likewise, awareness in neighbourhoods near Simcoe and Taunton may assist officers searching for the vulnerable man.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to call the numbers above. Timely tips to police can be critical to resolving missing-person investigations.
