A small private plane caught fire after a difficult landing at Qualicum Beach Airport on Monday, Sept. 16 at 2:20 p.m. (Google)

By Ian Holmes

plane catches fire

Plane damaged by fire following troubled landing at Qualicum Beach airport

Sep 16, 2024 | 4:37 PM

QUALICUM BEACH — A small private plane with two people aboard was heavily damaged upon touching down at the Qualicum Beach Airport.

The Town of Qualicum Beach’s acting chief administrative officer Luke Sales said it happened on Monday, Sept. 16 at 2:20 p.m.

“A plane was landing and experienced some mechanical failure with their landing gear. They were able to land, the two pilots on board departed the aircraft and the aircraft subsequently lit on fire.”

Sales said both occupants of the plane, described as pilots, were uninjured.

He said Qualicum Beach Fire Rescue crews responded and put the fire out while noting the plane has since been removed from the runway.

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Flight tracking software showed the plane, a Cessna 177RG Cardinal. was travelling to Qualicum Beach from Vancouver, but took an indirect route.

After leaving Boundary Bay airport, the flight flew over the southern Gulf Islands, then up the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, over Gabriola Island, Nanaimo, Lantzville and Nanoose Bay before making the approach to Qualicum airport.

The flight lasted around 48 minutes.

Operations at the Town-owned Qualicum Beach Airport have since returned to normal, Sales noted.

“The entire midsection of the plane was burned, so major damage to that aircraft.”

Applicable agencies such as Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board have been alerted, he said.

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes