in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
January 28, 2021
BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — "Flying is the second-greatest thrill on earth. Landing is the first." — Author unknown.
The 56 year-old pilot who crash-landed his plane on the frozen surface of Eugenia Lake last Sunday, knows the truth of this statement. Just before noon on January 24, engine trouble forced the Kitchener man to put the plane down hard on the ice and snow covered waterway, damaging the nose, propeller and landing gear in the process. According to one single-engine airplane owner's observation, "With the nose gear repair and requisite engine rebuild it was a more-than $30k event."
Grey Bruce OPP were assisted at scene by the Grey Highlands Fire Department and the Grey Bruce Paramedic Services. Photos: Erika Dick
Grey Bruce OPP reported that the 2016 Vans 7A airplane began have engine problems and the pilot decided that they needed to make an emergency landing. Following the crash, the Transport Safety Board of Canada was notified.
Damage and costs aside and catastrophe avoided, the relatively unharmed, but shaken, plane occupant was faced with a new problem. Once Grey Bruce OPP completed their investigation of the incident, the plane owner was given the responsibility of removing the aircraft from the lake.
The pilot walks to shore after abandoning his damaged plane. Photo: Erika Dick
Having broken the ice in a couple of places, the lake surface was compromised from the force of the landing, making the calculation for removal more difficult. Interested visitors to the lake on Sunday were warned to stay a safe distance from the downed craft for fear of falling through. So, how do you remove a hobbled plane from the middle of a frozen lake whose ice might be too thin to safely hold the weight of a flatbed truck or other towing vehicle?
Very carefully.
The single-engine plane sits nose down in the snow and ice before removal.
Today, following several days of significant snowfall and frigid weather thickening the layer of ice on the surface of Eugenia Lake, a tow truck ventured out to the accident site and was able to remove the aircraft without much trouble. Now it's off to the repair shop to assess the damages and repair.
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