KANANASKIS COUNTRY – A float plane crashed into Spray Lakes reservoir in Kananaskis on Wednesday night (July 5), sending emergency services from Canmore flying to help out.
The pilot, in his late 60s, was thankfully not injured in the low level crash into the water, according to EMS.
Lance Bushie, fire chief of Canmore Fire-Rescue, said he was unsure if the plane was taking off or landing, but believes it was involved in a filming project on the Spray Lakes when it went down about 9 p.m.
“For whatever reason, the nose dipped down and the props hit the water, which causes a bit of an issue there for the pilot,” he said.
“The plane did not sink or submerge. It was still on its floats in the water. The propellers were pretty bent up though.”
Canmore EMS responded to the scene near the West Spray Lakes Campground parking lot just before 9 p.m.
Stuart Brideaux, a spokesperson for Alberta Health Services EMS, said the patient was not injured.
“He was a man in his late 60s who was the sole occupant of the aircraft,” he said.
“EMS assessed him at the scene and the patient declined any further treatment or transport at that time, so he was left in the care of the film set.”
Canmore Fire-Rescue responded with four vehicles and two boats.
Bushie said crews left the scene following an assessment.
He said Canmore firefighters checked to make sure there were no fuel leaks in the lake.
“We just assessed the plane to make sure that there wasn't gonna be a fire, that there wasn’t fluids coming out of it that could contaminate the lake,” he said.
“There was no entrapment, and the plane did not go under the water.”
