SUBMITTED PHOTO James Evans
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A Toronto pilot is fine after the lower portion of his plane sunk into the ice of Lake Simcoe Saturday afternoon.
Dave Gallagher, 57, was taxiing his Cessna 150 about 500-feet from shore in Barnstable Bay when its skis got stuck.
“I just landed the aircraft and I was taxiing along. The skis just dropped through,” he said. “It's too soft. The ice became way too soft.”
A Bayshore Drive resident saw the plane stuck in the ice and called emergency crews.
“I saw the plane was moving, but I didn't see it go up,” said Sharon, who wished to not use her last name. “The next thing (I saw was) it was down in the ice. I'm glad he's alright.”
Gallagher jumped out of the plane's window and walked to shore.
“Most of (the ice is safe),” he said. “I just hit a soft spot. There's still lots of ice on the lake.”
Gallagher has been flying in the area all weekend with friends.
“It was a good day for flying,” he said.
The pilot will be bringing in a helicopter later today to retrieve the plane.
Story, Photos, Reaction/Comments: http://www.orilliapacket.com
Ramara Township - A scary situation for the pilot of a small plane on Lake Simcoe.
A 57-year-old Toronto man was attempting to land his white Cessna 150 on the frozen lake on Barnstable Bay near Bayshore Village just east of Orillia on Saturday afternoon.
However, as he was taxiing, the skis of the plane fell through a soft spot of thin ice and the airplane started to sink.
Luckily, the airplane was in a shallow part of the water and did not completely submerge.
The pilot -- who was the lone occupant in the aircraft -- was not injured and was able to exit the plane and walked to shore.
Orillia OPP, Ramara Fire Department, and Rama EMS and Fire Department arrived at the scene but no emergency personnel had to go onto the ice to render assistance.
The OPP completed their investigation after two and a half hours and did not lay any charges.
http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca
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