A male passenger was killed when a small plane crashed near Black Diamond Sunday night. The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on July 29, in a farm field about two nautical miles east of Black Diamond, said Jon Lee, western regional manager for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. “The aircraft was attempting a take-off from a farm field and collided with hay bales,” said Lee. “The airplane barely got airborne. It basically crashed toward the end of the field from its take-off point.” After the collision with the hay bales, there was a post-impact fire, he said. Two people were onboard. One male was determined deceased at the scene and the pilot was taken to hospital in Calgary with serious injuries, he said. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada wrapped up its investigation of the crash site on July 30 and is still collecting information from the pilot and witnesses, he said. The board will be taking a closer look at the plane in the coming days, he said. “The wreckage is going to be recovered back to our shop in Edmonton,” said Lee. “We’re going to do some more mechanical examination, in particular with the engine, and we’ll continue collecting information both historically about the aircraft and the pilot’s background, and information about the weather.” He said it’s not entirely uncommon for pilots of small aircraft to take off from a farmer’s field, despite the risks. “As with any vehicle that’s not on a paved surface, there are challenges with regards to how easily it’s going to get up to speed before it takes off,” said Lee. “That’s going to be an issue we’re going to be exploring in the investigation, is what effect, if any, did the field condition have with regards to the take-off run.” The names of the pilot and passenger have not been released.
