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UPDATED: Wind gust believed cause of airplane crashing into Wholesale Club parking lot

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
August 3rd, 2020

Nelson Police said two people escaped serious injury after wind gusts at the Nelson Airport sent a light airplane crashing into the Wholesale Club parking lot Monday morning.

Nelson Police the crash happen at 9:26 a.m. when a plane was attempting to land at the Nelson Airport next two Lakeside Drive and across from the Wholesale Club grocery store.

An eyewitness told The Nelson Daily the wheels of the airplane touched down a few times on the runway before the pilot lost control after a wind gust pushed the plane through the chain link fence, across Lakeside Drive and into the parking lot of the Wholesale Club at 402 Lakeside Drive.

“Preliminary findings suggest the plane was attempting to land at Nelson Airport (CZNL), when a wind gust caused the plane to be drawn away from the runway and coming to rest in the parking lot of 402 Lakeside Drive,” the NPD media release said.

“A vehicle in the parking lot received minor damage but no one else was injured.”

Nelson Police said the two occupants of the plane sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital by BC Ambulance.

Nelson Fire Rescue said with the assistance of the pilot, the crews isolated fuel valves to stop most of the fuel leaking from the damaged airplane wings.

“The left-wing tank was damaged, and crews worked to contain the leaking fuel by using absorbents,” Nelson Fire Rescue media release said.

“Crews also used the absorbent to prevent the fuel from flowing into the storm drain.”

“The high temperatures and wind helped the aviation fuel evaporate quickly and limited the risk of fire,” Nelson Fire Rescue added.

Nelson Police Department and Transport Canada continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Nelson Fire Rescue said the plane made minor contact with a parked car just before stopping.

"Fortunately, at the time of the incident, traffic was minimal on the road and in the parking lot," Nelson Fire Rescue said.

The incident is under investigation by the Nelson Police Department and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

The plane was towed by Western Auto Wreckers to the Nelson Airport for storage until the investigation is completed.

Nelson Police and Nelson Fire Rescue would like to thank everyone that provided assistance with this incident.

Plane crashes in Wholesale Club parking lot

Two people were taken to hospital Monday morning following an airplane crash at the Nelson Airport.

An eye witness told The Nelson Daily at approximately 9 a.m. a plane was attempting a landing when crosswinds forced the plane crashing through the chain link fence and into the Wholesale Cliub parking lot.

The witness said two occupants got out of the airplane, one person bloodied from the crash.

Nelson Fire Rescue, Nelson Police and BC Ambulance a attended.

The plane was later removed from the parking lot by Western Auto towing.

More to come.

The area surrounding the airplane was blocked off to the public while tow truck prepares to remove the plane that crashed Monday morning. 

Western Auto drivers prepare to tow the downed airplane that ended up in the Wholesale Club parking lot Monday morning to the Nelson Airport for storage until the investigation is completed. Both occupants were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The damaged airplane rests in the Wholesale Club parking lot before being by Western Auto Wreckers to the Nelson Airport for storage until the investigation is completed. — Nelson Fire Rescue photo

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