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Pilot in Alberta airshow crash remembered as humble and happy

Click to play video: 'Aviation community mourning the loss of a ‘gentle giant’'
Aviation community mourning the loss of a ‘gentle giant’
WATCH ABOVE: Friends and fellow pilots say the loss of Bruce Evans has devastated them. Evans died in a crash while performing an aerobatic routine at the cold lake air show over the weekend. Jill Croteau spoke to some people who shared the skies with him about his sudden loss – Jul 19, 2016

COLD LAKE, Alta. – A pilot killed during an airshow in Alberta on Sunday is being remembered as someone who had a passion for planes.

Pilot and geologist Bruce Evans died when his vintage Trojan T-28 aircraft crashed in front of thousands of spectators at the Cold Lake Airshow.

His friend Dave O’Malley says Evans was incredibly humble and loved to share his passion for aviation with young people.

O’Malley says he met Evans many years ago when they were flying with young cadets as part of a training program to teach youth about Canada’s aviation history.

Watch below: The Wetaskiwin Air Show was dedicated to Calgary pilot Bruce Evans on Wednesday. Evans died during a performance at the Cold Lake Air Show over the weekend. Nancy Carlson has more.

Click to play video: 'Wetaskiwin Air Show pays tribute to Calgary pilot'
Wetaskiwin Air Show pays tribute to Calgary pilot

O’Malley says Evans was an experienced pilot with over 4,100 hours of flying time and the crash was a shock to many who knew him.

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The Transportation Safety Board says the cause of the crash is still unknown and an investigation at the Canadian Forces base is underway.

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READ MORE: ‘He just nosedived straight down’: witness to deadly plane crash at Alberta air show 

According to the air show’s website, Evans, who is also known by the name “Frac,” was a geologist who works around the world in the field of resources exploration. His bio says he grew up in an Air Force family and his father spent time as an aircraft maintenance engineer as well as a radar specialist.

WATCH: The Cold Lake Air Show was cancelled Sunday after a fatal plane crash during a pilot’s performance. Quinn Ohler has the details.
Click to play video: 'Pilot killed in plane crash at Alberta air show'
Pilot killed in plane crash at Alberta air show

Evans attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. and according to his bio, the family’s Cessna 172 – a small aircraft – was used to travel to and from university.

The air show’s website says Evans bought a T-28B Trojan in 2007 and that the plane he bought was built in 1955.

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With files from Global News

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