Update: One Nelson man dead after plane crashes into Arrow Lake near Nakusp
A small float plane crashed near Nakusp Wednesday morning, claiming the life of one Nelson man and sending the pilot to hospital.
The plane crashed into upper Arrow Lake about 500 metres off the shore around 8:30 a.m.
The Nelson Daily learned late Wednesday the plane was from Nelson. The plane was en route to take the pair of men on a fishing trip to Fortress Lake on the Alberta/B.C. border near Jasper.
The 64-year-old passenger in the plane, who lost his life, didn’t have a fishing license so the pilot decided to land near Nakusp to purchase one.
The lake near the site of the crash was like glass which makes it difficult for float planes to land. The plane hit the water before the pilot expected to touch down and flipped.
The pilot got out without a scratch but the passenger was unable to get out of the plane despite several attempts by the pilot. The passenger succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.
A dive team was called in and asked for the assistance of local search-and-rescue services.