The pilot of a small aircraft was able to walk away without a scratch after crashing their plane near the Fort McMurray International Airport over the weekend, according to the RCMP.
Police said officers were called to a reported plane crash near the airport at about 10 p.m. on Sunday night. In a news release issued on Tuesday, the RCMP said the plane, a Cessna 210A, had taken off from the airport and was expected to land there as well.
The pilot was forced to make an early landing because of mechanical issues. Police said the plane departed from the Fort McMurray International Airport and was planning to land there as well. The pilot was the lone occupant of the aircraft.
On Thursday, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) provided more details on the crash. A spokesperson for the agency said the plane experienced loss of engine power about an hour after taking off — during an extended approach to the runway — and had insufficient altitude to make a runway landing.
According to the TSB, the pilot forced a landing on a snow-covered portion of the airfield on the airport’s land. The aircraft flipped over before coming to a rest upside down. The agency said the plane sustained “severe” damage.
While the TSB said it is not investigating, it was informed of the crash. A spokesperson said weather was not considered a factor in the incident.
The TSB says the Cessna 210A was a privately-registered aircraft but would not provide details about the pilot or their age.
The RCMP said its investigation into the incident is complete.
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