Crash at Kelowna airport, small plane slides off runway into Mill Creek

A HAZMAT crew works to contain fuel leaking from Cessna that crashed into a creek at YLW.

(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

October 04, 2013 - 11:58 AM

UPDATE: 12:46 p.m. Oct. 4, 2013

KELOWNA - The student pilot at the helm of a Cessna 172 that crashed at YLW this morning has been taken to hospital with minor injuries, airport director Sam Samaddar said during a press conference today.

Samaddar said the student was conducting a touch and go exercise, which is where the pilot lands and takes off again in a repeated pattern. He also said there are a number of flight schools using the airport to conduct such exercises with students.

Samaddar wouldn't say how long the pilot involved in the accident had been in training.

The plane was carrying approximately 35 gallons of fuel when the accident occurred and estimates about five gallons spilled into Mill Creek and surrounding area, said Samaddar, and the spill has been contained.

UPDATE: 12:34 p.m. Oct. 4, 2013

KELOWNA - An official report from the Kelowna Airport states a small Cessna 172 piloted by a student of a local flight school crashed during a "fight and go" exercise on runway 16.

The accident happened at 11:45 a.m. The plane veered off the runway into Mill Creek. The pilot walked away from the crash, but an ambulance is at the scene to care for his injuries.

The runway is open to commercial flights in and out of YLW as scheduled. HAZMAT is taking care of any environmental concerns related to the accident.

11:58 a.m. Oct. 4, 2013

KELOWNA - The Kelowna Fire Department has confirmed they are attending a crash at the Kelowna Airport.

Initial reports are that a small plane attempting takeoff at the Kelowna Airport missed the mark and went into Mill Creek, just north of the tower. The plane may have been carrying a full fuel load of 35 gallons when the accident occurred. It appears the wing was damaged in the crash, which is where the fuel may be leaking from.

There is no word on how serious the crash is or if anyone was injured. An ambulance is on the way.

HAZMAT is attending to clean up any fuel spilling as a result of the crash.

No further details are available at this time.

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