Two more people identified in Pemberton mid-air collision

UPDATE: Friends have identified the husband and wife killed in a mid-air crash  between a powered glider and a Cessna 150 plane on Saturday afternoon near Pemberton as Terry Gale and his wife Rita. The couple and family dog were flying in their Cessna when it collided with the glider. The couple lived in Buffalo Creek, took off from 108-mile House and were en route to Nanaimo when the crash happened.

The glider was piloted by 49-year-old Rudy Rozsypalek who was flying with a tourist from India when the mid-air collision occurred.

Rozsypalek, a Pemberton resident, had been a pilot for about 35 years and had a lot of experience flying.

He and his wife owned and operated Pemberton Soaring Centre, which posted the following message on their website Sunday afternoon:

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“It is with deep regret due to the tragic accident that occured on July 29th Pemberton Soaring announces it has ceased operations.

Information on how to contact the Rozsypalek family will be made available online soon.”

Rozsypalek is the only person who has been identified in the crash, which killed four people. The two people in the Cessna 150 are residents of 100 Mile House, but they have not been identified. Their dog also died in the accident.

The incident happened around 12:20 p.m. near the Nairn Falls Campground, located less than half an hour north of Whistler.

Sgt. Rob Knapton with the Whistler RCMP confirmed debris from the crash fell in the area of the campground where all 94 campsites were full, but no one on the ground was hurt. There were pieces of the aircraft on both sides of the river.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)  has launched an investigation into collision.

TSB Investigators were on site Saturday and continue their work Sunday.

The investigation is in the field phase where they gather information, take photos/examine the wreckage and conduct interviews. The team will work to find out what happened, how it happened,  determine the causes and contributing factors, and identify residual risk.  If it identifies any immediate safety issues, it won’t wait until the conclusion of the investigation to communicate with the regulator and industry.