Pilot dies in ultralight plane crash
Second man airlifted to hospital in Halifax
A Middle River man is dead after the ultralight plane he was piloting crashed into a barn early Saturday evening in this rural Victoria County community.
At approximately 6: 50 p. m. on Saturday, Victoria County RCMP, Emergency Health Services and the Middle River Fire Department responded to a call that an ultralight plane had crashed near the West Side Middle River Road.
The small aircraft had two male occupants — the 54year- old man piloting the aircraft was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 26- year- old passenger was transported to hospital in Halifax by Life-Flight.
On Sunday, RCMP Cpl. Angela Corscadden said they had no update on the condition of the 26- year- old man, who is believed to be from the local area.
The name of the man killed in the crash has not been released, with Corscadden noting that the RCMP has adopted a policy of not releasing the names of victims in collision incidents.
The police say their preliminary investigation indicates the ultralight crashed into a barn shortly after takeoff from a neighbouring field.
The Transportation Safety Board has been notified and will conduct an evaluation today.
By early Sunday morning, just over 12 hours after the crash, there were few visible signs of the accident.
“The scene has been cleared,” said Corscadden. “Once the ( Transportation Safety Board) and RCMP released it, I’m not certain if it was family, or friends, but they removed the aircraft.”
However, an RCMP investigation is continuing.
“When there’s a fatality involved there’s still an RCMP investigation,” said Corscadden. “There’s no suspicion of alcohol being involved, however we do need to follow that up with autopsy. At this point it’s still an active RCMP investigation.”
Corscadden didn’t know exactly when the autopsy would take place.
Middle River Fire Department Chief David MacKenzie said Sunday that when they arrived at the scene of the crash the ultralight plane was wedged into the garage.
Firefighters quickly gained access to the garage through a side door in order to reach the two occupants of the aircraft.
MacKenzie said it was a difficult scene for members of the department as many knew the victim, who resided in the community.
“It’s always upsetting to people when somebody knows somebody in the community and they are injured or die,” he said.
Without identifying the de- ceased man, MacKenzie said he and his family have strong roots in the area. “He’s been in the community for several years,”
he said.