WATCH ABOVE: A pilot believed to be in his 70’s managed to walk away with just minor injuries after his plane crashed in the southeast community of Walden today. Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports.
CALGARY – EMS was called to Macleod Trail near 210 Avenue southeast around 11:40 a.m. Saturday morning, for reports of a small plane crash in a field in the community of Walden.
A man in his 70’s was taken to Foothills hospital in non-life threatening condition, he suffered minor soft-tissue injuries.
The man was the lone occupant in the plane, which came to a rest on its roof at the site.
Based on the position of the aircraft, paramedics assisted the man from the cockpit.
No word yet on what caused the crash.
The area where the plane crashed is believed to be a construction site adjacent to Walden Common southeast.
Rob Sousa, is a construction manager, says he and two of his crew members assisted in the rescue.
‘There was a little Cessna over there. They noticed he was experiencing mechanical trouble. He flew out here from the west looking for a place to land and when he found a field over there he just put it down there and it was very shaky and wobbly. When he dropped it down, the nose hit the ground and he flipped over. When that happened, some of our guys were over there (near the site) ran and asked if he was all right, called 911 right away, and they were able to dig out a little trench so the guy could climb out. There was a small fire and the fire department put it out and that’s pretty much what happened,” Sousa said.
“He had a cut on his head, probably a little more shocked than anything but other than that he looked ok.”
Staff Sergeant Sheldon Scott says the brought in the CFD in as a precaution.
“Our concern at the time was fuel on the aircraft, so we were dealing with that and the spill resulted in being overturned,” Sgt. Scott said.
Bill Metcalfe witnessed the incident, he was working on his house when he saw the plane crash.
“The framer over there (near site) whistled at me, there was a plane coming in. So I turned around and I watched maybe the last 20 feet, it was about 10 feet off the ground. It came in, hit the ground and flipped over. And people started running over there. I thought maybe the cockpit got crushed, the way it flipped over,’ Metcalfe said.
The crash happened in the far south end of the community of Walden, which is still under construction, with pockets of new homes being built near existing ones.
Witnesses and people who live here are just thankful the pilot was able to take his plane down where he did and not closer to homes.
“He was conscious, I mean obviously he knew this was coming because he was looking for a place to drop down so he was probably very heroic on his part. I think looking for a place to crash, where he didn’t crash into houses or people, I think that was commendable on his part.”
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