MABEL LAKE, B.C. — Family members watched Sunday afternoon as a plane crashed in windy weather and burst into flames, killing both people on board.
The crash happened just after 3 p.m. at an airstrip in the small British Columbia town of Mabel Lake, located about 45 kilometres east of Vernon.
“Family members were watching the plane as it took off and then attempted to return to the landing strip on two occasions,” said RCMP spokesman Gordon Molendyk. “On the third attempt, the aircraft appeared to shake heavily, then crashed in a field that is owned by the family.”
The plane caught fire when it hit the ground, he said.
The 53-year-old pilot and his 45-year-old passenger were both from the nearby Lumby area.
How awful for the family to witness that. The weather at that lake can change in a heart beat from my experience growing up in that area and spending a lot of summers on that lake. My sympathy to the family and deep sorrow for the two people lost in the accident.
My late brother-in-law and his family lived in Lumby for many years. It is a small community that will be hard hit ... my deepest sympathies to all affected.
I only flew in there once and I thought it to be an excellent strip. Even in a crosswind, below the trees and in ground effect I would think the landing would be manageable but those that know it better might want to elaborate on why this place is dangerous.
On Saturday, friends from YNJ flew into Mabel Lake for lunch and where told that in the future they were not welcome unless they lived there or where arriving to play golf. The individual told Brian that a certain Okanogan Valley FTU was using the strip on a regular basis without prior permission and when the caretaker approached the instructor all hell broke loose...plenty of attitude.
This is what turns people off about GA and now with a resident involved in a fatality, it could mean the last nail driven into a fragile situation....Liability comes to mind.
Sadly two fellows left their families under very nasty circumstances.
R.I.P.
Old Dog Flying wrote:On Saturday, friends from YNJ flew into Mabel Lake for lunch and where told that in the future they were not welcome unless they lived there or where arriving to play golf. The individual told Brian that a certain Okanogan Valley FTU was using the strip on a regular basis without prior permission
So both your friends and the FTU don't know what PPR means in the CFS? Seriously???
I landed there once (with prior permission - it's not hard to get). It was a calm day generally, but there was serious wind shear coming in to the strip over the lakeshore. I bounced hard enough that I worried about the integrity of my landing gear, but it was OK when checked later. The terrain makes a low altitude go around inadvisable. I wouldn't go there again without an experienced instructor.
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randall g =%^)> C-GTUM - 1974 Cardinal RG - CZBB BC Flying Photos
Old Dog Flying wrote:On Saturday, friends from YNJ flew into Mabel Lake for lunch and where told that in the future they were not welcome unless they lived there or where arriving to play golf. The individual told Brian that a certain Okanogan Valley FTU was using the strip on a regular basis without prior permission and when the caretaker approached the instructor all hell broke loose...plenty of attitude.
This is what turns people off about GA and now with a resident involved in a fatality, it could mean the last nail driven into a fragile situation....Liability comes to mind.
Sadly two fellows left their families under very nasty circumstances.
R.I.P.
I'd be curious to find out which FTU is flying there without PPR. I trained at SIFC in Kelowna and there aircraft are not allowed on turf period. There are only two other FTU's that I can think of, one in Vernon which is close by and the other in Penticton which I doubt would fly that far north for a grass strip when there is one east of them.
I have heard that it is a fragile situation but that GA is welcome as long as you are going to spend some money there, I thought buying lunch was enough. Too bad it is a gorgeous strip to fly into.
A friend flew up to the Mabel Lake Resort last thursday... Called for PPR first, was told they would need a tee time. So they called the golf course, and got a tee time. While having lunch at the golf course, they called the pro shop and cancelled the tee time. No problem.
They talked to the owner, who is apparently concerned about liability. I'm not sure how requiring tee times absolves him of any. It just makes it a nuisance for the golf course, as people make bookings that they don't necessarily keep. Looking at the photos, it looks like they are space constrained there? Maybe if a large number of planes arrived it might be hard to squeeze them all in?
Old Dog Flying wrote:On Saturday, friends from YNJ flew into Mabel Lake for
So both your friends and the FTU don't know what PPR means in the CFS? Seriously???
This thread has gone a bit sideways due to the poor press report. Thanks dip for setting things straight. My condolences to friends and family associated with this unfortunate accident.
Re Mabel Lake strip.....well I don't golf. I think golf is a good example of everything that's wrong with the world. Not likely to win that debate on a pilots forum.
If the policy re use of the strip is as stated that is unfortunate. I'm pretty sure I have the skills and ac to safely use this strip and would love to fly in for a lunch and a short walk on the lake. I would hope this would help to support the business and I'd be tipping big for this unique experience. Doesn't seem like good business to turn restaurant revenue away.
Apparently a home built, de registered in 2008. There were some new HomeBuilt rules that cause many to de register their Ultralights. Challenger ( most popular ) comes to mind. Many mods to Challenger - if anyone knows of the aircraft involved.
Someone spent a lot of time on that aircraft's construction. Horse Power and design don't really seem to be at fault, but that will be up to T.C. to determine. The fault, if possible to determine, will be interesting.
Widow wrote:Uh, it will be up to the TSB, not TC. Sorry, just one of those things that irks me when folks confuse the purposes of the two.
I know exactly what you are saying. I feel the same way when people call it a Pickeral when its real name is a Walleye and its not even in the same family as a Pickeral.
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Last edited by Widow on Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason:O.K. I didn't actually edit this post. I wanted to delete it, cos, we don't need a thread-drifting argument, but gee, somene would accuse me of unneccessary and self-serving moderation. But, OMG, comparing TC vs TSB to pickerel vs walleye?
If a pilot walked into a forest and had to make a decision, and no one from AVCANADA was there. Would the pilot still be wrong?
