C-Ikea Pilot Report:
I am the pilot who flew into Chestermere Lake and this is what happened.
As always before landing I fly over the intended landing area and did not see any reason not to land.
This day was a nice winters day with bright sun upon the snowy surface.
As many times before I usually stop by Tim Hortons for a coffee and a donut before I continue my flight.
The ice surface has always been nice and trouble free.
It had been snowing and blowing and so had obviously hidden obstacles.
The water level is being lowered before winter and the spot where this happened was frozen lake bottom.
NO SLUSHY ICE.
What stopped me was because snow had drifted in and partly hidden the drainage ditch that originated from the parking lot on the west side.
I was about to swing around and park when my left ski went into this ditch.
The prop tips shattered, as it should to protect the engine, and the left landing gear bent.
I was told that several snowmobiles and quads had had the same problem with not seeing this ditch and almost had accidents themselves.
Could a snow fence or some orange warning cones have made a difference?
You know what? I never got the coffee and the donut...
I would like to correct the reported incident. I am the pilot who flew into Chestermere Lake and this is what happened. As always before landing I fly over the intended landing area and did not see any reason not to land. This day was a nice winters day with bright sun upon the snowy surface. As many times before I usually stop by Tim Hortons for a coffee and a donut before I continue my flight. The ice surface has always been nice and trouble free. It had been snowing and blowing and so had obviously hidden obstacles. The water level is being lowered before winter and the spot where this happened was frozen lake bottom. NO SLUSHY ICE. What stopped me was because snow had drifted in and partly hidden the drainage ditch that originated from the parking lot on the west side. I was about to swing around and park when my left ski went into this ditch. The prop tips shattered, as it should to protect the engine, and the left landing gear bent. I was told that several snowmobiles and quads had had the same problem with not seeing this ditch and almost had accidents themselves. Could a snow fence or some orange warning cones have made a difference? You know what? I never got the coffee and the donut...
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