By Troy Gillard/RD News NOW (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Pilot killed in Blackfalds plane crash

Oct 7, 2016 | 5:45 AM

A pilot is dead after a plane crash in Blackfalds Thursday, Oct. 6.

The male pilot was the only one on board when the plane went down near Cottonwood Drive in the town’s north end at around 2:30 p.m.

RCMP say the plane had taken off from Lacombe Airport and had been experiencing what witnesses thought was engine trouble prior to the crash.

The plane came down in an open area and did not hit any buildings or injure anyone on the ground. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.

The aircraft involved was an amateur-built biplane. The Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash. 

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The pilot’s name is not being released.

Jeff Denny, a Blackfalds resident and experienced pilot of over 35 years, described what he heard and saw leading up to the crash.

“I heard this plane come over the house and it was low, I could tell because it was on quite a high power setting. I ran out on the street to see what kind of airplane it was, it was a biplane, and I saw it performing a barrel roll.

“He [pilot] cut it back to idle and I thought to myself ‘Ok, is he going to continue with this maneuver?’ because he was pretty over the ground. But he continued with the barrel roll about halfway then he started putting his nose toward the ground at which time he slipped more power to it to try and pull out, I would assume.”

Denny said he had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

“I could tell he was way too low to the ground to pull out and sure enough I heard a thud when it hit the ground and knew he had crashed. So I got in my vehicle and went to the scene.”

Denny wouldn’t speculate on a cause but said he is quite familiar with the type of plane involved, a home-built Steen Skybolt.

“I know lots of people who have built them over the years. They are an aerobatic-rated plane. Whoever is flying it should know its capability and what kind of altitude is needed to do a maneuver.”