Two dead after planes collide mid-air near Fort McMurray
By Pamela Roth, Edmonton Sun
First posted: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:00 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, June 22, 2015 06:02 PM EDT
Moments after a Cessna 185 made an emergency crash landing at the Fort McMurray airport Sunday night, the pilot bolts from the wreckage to a nearby firetruck that rolls up.
A stunned witness captured a video of the damaged float plane making the dramatic landing after it collided with another Cessna 172 in mid-air 21 miles northeast of the airport, about 8 p.m., killing the pilot and passenger aboard that plane.
The video of the crash landing shows the plane, with a large piece of debris dangling from the bottom, descending towards the runway at a high rate of speed.
Missing the runway, the plane hits the ground then slides onto its nose, pushing up a cloud of dirt.
Within seconds, the pilot pops out of the left side of the wreckage, running to the firetruck.
Later Sunday night, a HERO 1 Medical Helicopter searched and located the other plane in an isolated area. Police confirmed two people were found dead at the crash site.
The Transportation Safety Board has since deployed two investigators to the site to document the wreckage, examine the area, and determine what exactly led to the collision. They planned to interview the witnesses and the surviving pilot.
The downed plane belongs to McMurray Aviation in Fort McMurray, which offers flight training and maintenance services. On its Facebook page, the company said it was a training aircraft involved in the collision, but no further details were provided.
"My thoughts and condolences are with the families of those involved and with the family that makes up the staff at McMurray Aviation," wrote Ryan Abel on the Facebook page.
"Aviators are passionate about pursuing the unique and rewarding challenge of flying and I know those that our community has lost will be remembered for their love of flight and the unique talents they developed to see the world in a different way, and experience the ultimate freedom life has to offer."
While rare, mid-air collisions do happen.
In June 2013, four people and a dog were killed when a glider and a Cessna 150 collided in mid-air near Pemberton, B.C., sending debris raining down into a campground in Nairn Falls Provincial Park. There were no reports of injuries on the ground.
A year before that in Saskatchewan, four adults and an 11-year-old boy were killed when a small plane heading to a northern fishing camp collided with a plane carrying three people from Alberta near the community of St. Brieux.
A report into that crash concluded the converging position of the two planes would have made it difficult for either to see the oncoming aircraft until it was too late.
Three people were killed in August 2006 when two small Cessnas collided near Caledon, Ont. One of the planes in that crash was being flown by an instructor and student.
With files from The Candian Press
Pamela.roth@sunmedia.ca
@SUNpamelaroth
A plane involved in a fatal crash near Fort McMurray here landing safely. The pilot wasn't hurt. (YouTube screen capture)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4w3oKns8H8
Two dead after planes collide mid-air near Fort McMurray | Canada | News | Toron
By Pamela Roth, Edmonton Sun
First posted: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:00 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, June 22, 2015 06:02 PM EDT
Moments after a Cessna 185 made an emergency crash landing at the Fort McMurray airport Sunday night, the pilot bolts from the wreckage to a nearby firetruck that rolls up.
A stunned witness captured a video of the damaged float plane making the dramatic landing after it collided with another Cessna 172 in mid-air 21 miles northeast of the airport, about 8 p.m., killing the pilot and passenger aboard that plane.
The video of the crash landing shows the plane, with a large piece of debris dangling from the bottom, descending towards the runway at a high rate of speed.
Missing the runway, the plane hits the ground then slides onto its nose, pushing up a cloud of dirt.
Within seconds, the pilot pops out of the left side of the wreckage, running to the firetruck.
Later Sunday night, a HERO 1 Medical Helicopter searched and located the other plane in an isolated area. Police confirmed two people were found dead at the crash site.
The Transportation Safety Board has since deployed two investigators to the site to document the wreckage, examine the area, and determine what exactly led to the collision. They planned to interview the witnesses and the surviving pilot.
The downed plane belongs to McMurray Aviation in Fort McMurray, which offers flight training and maintenance services. On its Facebook page, the company said it was a training aircraft involved in the collision, but no further details were provided.
"My thoughts and condolences are with the families of those involved and with the family that makes up the staff at McMurray Aviation," wrote Ryan Abel on the Facebook page.
"Aviators are passionate about pursuing the unique and rewarding challenge of flying and I know those that our community has lost will be remembered for their love of flight and the unique talents they developed to see the world in a different way, and experience the ultimate freedom life has to offer."
While rare, mid-air collisions do happen.
In June 2013, four people and a dog were killed when a glider and a Cessna 150 collided in mid-air near Pemberton, B.C., sending debris raining down into a campground in Nairn Falls Provincial Park. There were no reports of injuries on the ground.
A year before that in Saskatchewan, four adults and an 11-year-old boy were killed when a small plane heading to a northern fishing camp collided with a plane carrying three people from Alberta near the community of St. Brieux.
A report into that crash concluded the converging position of the two planes would have made it difficult for either to see the oncoming aircraft until it was too late.
Three people were killed in August 2006 when two small Cessnas collided near Caledon, Ont. One of the planes in that crash was being flown by an instructor and student.
With files from The Candian Press
Pamela.roth@sunmedia.ca
@SUNpamelaroth
A plane involved in a fatal crash near Fort McMurray here landing safely. The pilot wasn't hurt. (YouTube screen capture)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4w3oKns8H8
Two dead after planes collide mid-air near Fort McMurray | Canada | News | Toron
