Firefighters work to extinguish the flames following a plane crash north of Osoyoos Tuesday afternoon. (RCMP photo)
A 46-year-old Surrey pilot is in critical condition in a Vancouver burn unit following the crash of his single-engine plane on Highway 97 north of Osoyoos on Tuesday.
Osoyoos RCMP said they received a report of the plane crash at 4:56 p.m. on July 7.
The pilot was the sole occupant of the plane. Witnesses said it flew low over and orchard before crashing.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is sending a team of investigators to Osoyoos to gather information.
The plane was a Beechcraft A36. The RCMP said it had taken off from Oliver en route to Boundary Bay, but lost power and attempted to make an emergency landing on Highway 97.
Traffic was moderate. The pilot managed to clear power lines only to catch his wing on the rear of a northbound commercial transport truck trailer.
The plane hit the ground and slid hard into a pole before bursting into flames.
The pilot suffered extensive burns to the majority of his body, however, he was able to extricate himself from the wreckage.
He was airlifted to the burn unit in Vancouver.
The investigation has been turned over to the TSB, which is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety.
It is not the function of the TSB to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
A small plane crashed on Highway 97 just north of Osoyoos shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Osoyoos firefighters, ambulance and RCMP arrived quickly at the scene.
A witness said fruit pickers saw the plane flying low over the orchard before it crash landed at a pole. One of the severed wing ends was seen a short distance away.
There is no official word on whether or not there were survivors.
This story will be updated as information becomes available. (Ken Baker photo)
The crashed small plane was engulfed in flames when it landed on Highway 97 very close to a house. Firefighters were quick to extinguish the flames. (Contributor photo)
Highway 97 is closed in both directions after a small plane crashed just north of Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire photo)
The front of the plane is badly damaged and only the tail is somewhat intact. (Richard McGuire photo)
The plane landed very close to a house beside Highway 97. (Richard McGuire photo)
With the fire now extinguished, firefighters consider their next moves. (Richard McGuire photo)
What appears to be the right wing landed a short distance from the body of the plane. (Richard McGuire photo)
An ambulance stands by. Witnesses said another ambulance transported the pilot, who was alive after the crash. There is no official word on the pilot’s condition. (Richard McGuire photo)
Firefighters are about to clean up after extinguishing the fire. (Richard McGuire photo)
Firefighters survey the scene after they extinguished the fire on a crashed small plane. (Richard McGuire photo)
