Charter airline reeling after fatal plane crash in Crowsnest Pass area

Crowsnest Pass RCMP are investigating after a small plane crashed near Hwy 22 and Chimney Rock Rd., close to Chain Lakes Provincial Park on Sunday, August 26.

Police in southern Alberta are investigating, after a fatal plane crash in the area late Sunday afternoon - and the tightly-knit company the pilot worked for is in mourning.

RCMP were called to the crash at about 5:46 p.m. – in the area of Highway 22 near Chimney Rock Road, close to Chain Lakes Provincial Park.

Crowsnest Pass RCMP said the pilot and only person inside the aircraft was dead when police arrived on the scene – police and emergency crews had to get help from witnesses to find the crash site.

According to RCMP, the 37-year-old male pilot is from Spruce Grove. On Monday, CTV News confirmed he worked for Alta Flights Charters – which is based out of the Edmonton International Airport.

A spokesperson for the company said the pilot was flying a Cessna 172, and was patrolling a pipeline at the time of the crash.

The crash has reportedly been hard on the tight-knit company, about 15 pilots in total work for the charter airline.

Investigators told CTV News the pilot had been flying from the Edmonton-area at the time – but the craft was pointed northbound when it crashed, it reportedly skidded for a distance before crashing into a creek embankment in a field.

The Transportation Safety Board has been called in to assist in the investigation.

RCMP did not release more details on the pilot’s identity, as they are still working on notifying next of kin.

With files from Sean Amato