Plane Crash near Nelson Bc ( CZNL )

[happy_flyer]

Anybody got any info ? I hear the pilot is alive with broken leg and jaw, but no other details. A/C type, owner etc.

[ywgflyboy]

Emergency crews responding to small aircraft crash near Nelson
TMTV/BCTV Kootenays - The Nelson RCMP Rural Detachment, with BC Ambulance Services and the Nelson Search and Rescue Team responded to a report of downed plane at 4:00 pm Monday afternoon January 18th, 2010 this afternoon. The pilot and sole occupant is currently being removed from the crash site and suffered non life threatening injuries.

Nelson RCMP and the Nelson Search and Rescue Team are currently removing the pilot from the mountainside crash site, in the Taghum area of Nelson. It is confirmed that the pilot was the sole occupant of the plane and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Reports indicate that the man was flying from Trail to Nelson. The Cessna 172 which crashed in the area near Marsden Rd was reported by another aircraft.

Investigators will be examining the crash site at daylight in order to determine the cause of the crash.

[Ogee]

Site is along that road that runs along the Kootenay River where you hang a sharp right off Taghum bridge going towards Castlegar. I was out there an hour ago. It's a 172, likely the one from Trail Flying Club. Policeman said it was up at 3800 foot level in fog. Vic went out in the Jet Ranger but couldn't see the wreckage through the fog. I heard pilot only, broken leg, and talking to rescuers on his cell phone. He was saying he could hear the helicopters overhead.

Great emergency response. The A team was out there, no doubt about that. Climbers, skidoos, a lot of people who seriously looked like they knew what they were doing. It was great to see and even greater when you knew that a survivor was coming out and saw the ambulances and fire trucks heading back to base.

Buffalo showed up just as I was leaving. Dropped a flare that stayed up a long time, but wasn't all that near to the crash site.

I'm real glad to hear that buddy isn't too badly hurt.

It's not really where you'd be if you were making the straightest line for Trail. Its kind of consistent with going up the wrong valley just after takeoff. There was a whole lot of .. around and moist air and I can see where a guy could come around that nose northwest and be into it and going the wrong way. The river is the only route that doesn't require a lot of climb. The other valleys to the northwest all are up drainage and as I recall, usually need at least one orbit for a same climbout.

[arrow203]

http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteN ... ntId=13050

[arrow203]

It was the Trail Flying Club's plane. Pilot is alive, and they're still working on getting him out (I know him personally). Weather certainly wasn't ideal this afternoon. More to come.

[happy_flyer]

Can someone PM me and let me know who it was ? I know a few of the guys but a little out of touch on the scene lately. Glad to hear he got out ok. Surprised anyone was in the area in a light aircraft today - not a good week to be in and out of Nelson...

[Pandeko]

I was surprised the helicopters were flying.. nowhere up to go out of nelson today...

[happy_flyer]

We have such a great SAR "community" around here - very lucky in that respect. I know Vic wouldnt push the limits, but if he could lend a hand he would.

If anyone is interested, here's a link to a photo of Nelson, looking west at 4pm today.

http://s969.photobucket.com/albums/ae17 ... son06h.jpg

[happy_flyer]

Oh dear...RCMP reporting bad news. Very sad.

http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.actio ... 51&index=1

[Airtids]

I just heard the same report. Anyone know the pilot, I would appreciate a PM...

[looproll]

It is really sad to hear he didn't make it out alive. The initial reports sounded so promising. RIP

[SarahLovesSeaplanes]

This is very sad.

I can't help but wonder if the cold also played a role in his demise. A broken leg obviously was the key factor but I know I have the habit of of unzipping my jacket and or even taking it off while I'm flying on extended legs just to be comfortable. Definitely something I'm going to rethink.

[iflyforpie]

Really sad. My condolences.

[kevind]

I used to belong to Trail Flying Club. Very sad news.

[seniorpumpkin]

Sad news indeed, my condolences

[cessnafloatflyer]

Sad news indeed -- winter mountain flying -- be careful out there... another example of weather that was forecasted... blah, blah, blah.

[felix0315]

my condolences

[aileron]

So sorry to hear the news; my condolences to family, friends and fellow club members.

[Flykda]

It doesnt surprise me that Vic was up there helping..Hes a really good guy..The Nelson SAR are a nice group of people who are very dedicated to the cause..Condolences to the mans family and the Trail Flying Club..

BA

[RatherBeFlying]

There was a glider crash on the ridge that runs from NY to Georgia a few years ago. The pilot used his cell phone but the batteries ran down and he had to spend the night in the wreckage before SAR could get to him.

Since then, I've taken to flying with a 406/121 MHz PLB in my pocket. If I'm conscious and have the use of one hand, my GPS position will be out there in very little time.

A PLB might have made the difference for this guy.

[Airtids]

RBF

I hear ya on the PLB, however, in this case finding the machine was not the problem, getting to it was. I had a chat with a SAR crew on the ramp here at CYYJ today, and they indicated that the problem was simply that they couldn't get to him in time. Tragic, really, that he survived, was able to make cel contact, and then perished.

He was a former client, and a really nice guy who just LOVED to fly. Don't know exactly what the circumstances were surrounding this flight or accident, however as Ogee alluded to, any route except the river will require a climb, and Grohman Creek will NOT work in a piston single. There's an old Cherokee parked up there on a hillside by a couple of kids who made a wrong turn and ended up Grohman instead of the next valley (Falls Ck?) that is testament to that fact.

Condolences, and RIP N.M.

[Cougar]

Condolences to his family and friends...

Sorry to hear such sad news.

Respectfully...

[Hurley_Bird]

I've flown in that C172 a few times back in the day.
Condolences to the family.

[RatherBeFlying]

in this case finding the machine was not the problem, getting to it was.

I hear you AT, steep vegetated BC terrain is about as hard as it gets, especially when everything you can grab seems to be Devil's Club. Downhill in that stuff is bad enough; uphill can be just awful.

[wildair]

Photos available here

www.wildairphoto.com/clients/plane-crash-2010-01-19