Remote plane crash site full of wreckage
CAMPBELLCROFT -- A ring of scorched forest floor surrounds the ruins of a plane in the Ganaraska Forest.
Pieces of the four-seater AA5 Grumman plane are scattered in a remote part of the forest.
The search for the aircraft came to a sad conclusion on Thursday, May 10 when the plane, along with the body of its 61-year-old pilot, was found in the forest, four kilometres northwest of Elizabethville.
The site of the crash is not visible from main trail routes or roadways. The path to the site takes many turns through dense forest. The trees and ground immediately around the plane crash site are burned.
The fire was contained to a small part of the forest. It was raining and foggy on the evening of May 7 when the plane came down.
Pieces of the four-seater AA5 Grumman plane are scattered in a remote part of the forest.
The search for the aircraft came to a sad conclusion on Thursday, May 10 when the plane, along with the body of its 61-year-old pilot, was found in the forest, four kilometres northwest of Elizabethville.
The site of the crash is not visible from main trail routes or roadways. The path to the site takes many turns through dense forest. The trees and ground immediately around the plane crash site are burned.
The fire was contained to a small part of the forest. It was raining and foggy on the evening of May 7 when the plane came down.
During the search period, military air assets including two CH-146 Griffon helicopters and two CC-130 Hercules aircraft from 424 Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, and one CC-130 Hercules aircraft from 435 Squadron at 17 Wing Winnipeg assisted with the effort. Several civilian aircraft from various locations in Ontario and Quebec joined in the search. OPP investigated the site on the evening of May 10 and then turned the scene over to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSBC). The board sent two investigators to the Ganaraska Forest, TSBC spokesman Chris Krepski said on May 11. There is no anticipated finish date at this point in the investigation, he added, saying “each case is different” based on a number of relying factors.
“(Investigators) will document and photograph everything,” Mr. Krepski said. “Pieces of interest will be collected and examined more closely.”
An insurance company was expected to start removing the wreckage on May 12, said Northumberland OPP Constable Phil Clarke. The OPP were no longer on scene and TSBC investigators had left on May 12.
The Ganaraska Forest will remain open to visitors, said Amy Griffiths, marketing and communications officer for the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). The flags were at half mast of May 12.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot’s family at this difficult time,” said Linda Laliberte, GRCA’s chief administrative officer. “We ask that all users of the Ganaraska Forest please respect the needs of the police officers and other officials as they investigate this accident by not attempting to visit the crash site during the investigation.”
The search for the downed plane began after the pilot failed to arrive as scheduled at Buttonville Airport. He had departed from St. Mathieu De Beloeil in Quebec at 6:40 p.m. on May 7, and was scheduled to arrive at Buttonville Airport at 11 p.m.
“(Investigators) will document and photograph everything,” Mr. Krepski said. “Pieces of interest will be collected and examined more closely.”
An insurance company was expected to start removing the wreckage on May 12, said Northumberland OPP Constable Phil Clarke. The OPP were no longer on scene and TSBC investigators had left on May 12.
The Ganaraska Forest will remain open to visitors, said Amy Griffiths, marketing and communications officer for the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA). The flags were at half mast of May 12.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot’s family at this difficult time,” said Linda Laliberte, GRCA’s chief administrative officer. “We ask that all users of the Ganaraska Forest please respect the needs of the police officers and other officials as they investigate this accident by not attempting to visit the crash site during the investigation.”
The search for the downed plane began after the pilot failed to arrive as scheduled at Buttonville Airport. He had departed from St. Mathieu De Beloeil in Quebec at 6:40 p.m. on May 7, and was scheduled to arrive at Buttonville Airport at 11 p.m.
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