VANCOUVER — Two people walked away with minor injuries, after a rare, Second-World-War era planed crashed yesterday at the Delta heritage air park.
According to Delta Police, the plane lost control as it was taking off, and veered into nearby bushes.
Trevor Skillen, the chairman of the operating committee at the park, said gusty wind conditions were likely a factor in the crash. He said he wasn’t familiar with the pilots, but told Global News he heard they were experienced.
“Everybody’s just very, very happy the pilot and passenger came out with minor cuts,” said Orest Ewanchyna, who witnessed the accident. They were taken to Vancouver General Hospital as a precautionary measure. The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
The plane, a vintage Tiger Moth, could take years to repair, according to Skillen, depending on the availability of parts which are harder to find for older aircrafts.
“There are very few in Canada, it’s a rare plane. I am only aware of one other in BC at this point…it’s a very special plane,” said Skillen. It was built in the 1940’s and used as a basic training aircraft for pilots in the Second World War. By 1983 it had turned to a pile of bare frames and parts, but was restored after a grant was issued by the provincial government. In 1999, it became airborne once again, after volunteers made it airworthy.
The Tiger Moth is owned by the Canadian Museum of Flight, based in Langley, and volunteers say the museum will repair the plane.
–With Files from The Canadian Press.
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