Environment

Firefighting Water Bomber Plane Crashes in Okanagan Lake

by cyn.khoo | July 25, 2009 at 04:28 pm

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A water bomber plane crashed into Okanagan Lake Saturday, July 25, while fighting wildfires in Terrace Mountain, near Kelowna, BC. The pilot was rescued by two boats in the lake and sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the crash, witnessed by Fintry Delta resident Bruce Freeborn, is unknown. The water bomber was seen to flip over as it was attempting to scoop up water from the lake.

"Its nose was under [the water] and its tail section was still up and the tip of one wing was still up," Freeborn said, adding it was upsetting to see the plane go down when fire crews are struggling to save his home from the blaze.

"It's stressful for them," he said. "I mean, they're putting their life in their hands there."

Terrace Mountain is currently under evacuation alert, as approximately 1,200 people return to their homes due to a threat downgrade in wildfires, after having evaculated when the fire expanded to twice its size Thursday, July 25.

The fire is said to be "25 percent contained" and covers approximately 45 square kilometers. Battling the blaze on-site are 250 firefighters, supported by over 30 aircraft and 48 pieces of heavy equipment.

Update (July 29, 2009):

Two of the boaters who rescued the pilot in the fallen water bomber were Fraser Hall, himself a pilot, and his father Ed Hall. According to (the younger) Hall, the plane's landing gear was deployed before the crash, seemingly unbeknownst to the pilot in the aircraft.

“I thought, ‘Oh, no,’” he said. “We couldn’t signal in any way.”

Seconds later, the plane – an Air Tractor AT-802F Amphibious, nicknamed Fire Boss – smashed into the lake, obscured by a plume of water. Mr. Hall, 31, and his 61-year-old father scrambled into their boat, making their way to the wreckage to join an RCMP officer in a Zodiac craft.

After bringing the pilot, who was mostly unharmed save for several bruises, onto their boat, the father and son tried to tow the plane back towards shore, traveling 30 meters before the fuselage broke off and sank.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 16:49 on July 25th, 2009

Just after noon today one of the Air Tankers that was actively working the Terrace Mountain fire went down into Okanagan Lake just south of Fintry Delta while taking on water to fight the fire.

Two boats in the area were on scene immediately and recued the pilot, he was taken to shore by the Kelowna RCMP police boat. The pilot is reported to have received minor injuries and has been transported to Kelowna hospital by EHS to be assessed by medical staff.
The Kelowna Fire boat was dispatched to the scene to assist and contain the scene.
Parts of the aircraft have been recovered by boats in the area. Police and fire officials remain on scene.
The plane is owned by Conair Group Inc. The company has been informed of this accident.

Transport Safety Board has been called to investigate this crash.