By Brent Bosker

Engine failure behind fatal crop duster plane crash

Aug 19, 2013 | 11:29 AM

Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) say engine failure caused a crop duster plane crash that claimed the life of a 31-year-old Alberta man.

On Friday, the Piper PA-24 registered to BP Airspray crashed nose-first into a field near Rose Valley killing the pilot.

TSB regional manager Peter Hildeberand said upon their initial investigation it looks like the engine wasn't running at full capacity when the plane came down.

“We had a look at the site and it indicates a fairly high rate vertical decent and not much forward speed.”

“The propeller doesn't show a lot of sign of running power at the time of impact,” he said.

ST. GEORGE'S

P.A. Ukrainian church welcomes new Bishop as repairs to the roof continue

11h ago

Battle ready

Predators set to defend title as new PGLL season approaches

Apr 26, 2024

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

Apr 26, 2024

Hildebrand said while they know how the plane crashed they still don't know why, adding they hope to find those answers when they further analyze pieces of the aircraft collected from the crash site.

Once the investigation is complete, Hildebrand said a standard letter will be forwarded to the Coroner's Office and next of kin.

This was the third crop duster crash in Saskatchewan last week.

A crash near Quill Lake sent the pilot to hospital with minor injuries. Another pilot walked away from a crash near Nipawin.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow