The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says a pilot is safe after a float plane experienced a hard landing near Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River.
It happened at around 7:45 a.m. Thursday.
The JRCC said its own crews and those from Emergency Health Services, RCMP and the Coast Guard responded.
Only the pilot was on board, the JRCC said.
The pilot, a 74-year-old man from Coal Harbour near Port Hardy, told CHEK News he was flying his eight-seater Turbo Beaver seaplane into Campbell River to have it serviced.
He said his plane stalled coming into approach when it was about 20 feet off the water, causing the nose to dip down and his pontoons to catch in the water.
Part of the aluminum arms underneath the plane broke on impact.
The pilot said he was wearing a life jacket and full harness which prevented him from lurching forward and hitting his head.
The pilot stood on one of the aircraft’s pontoons until a boat reached him.
The man did not suffer any injuries and was not taken to hospital.
The plane has since been towed away.
CHEK News
