Cessna 172M Skyhawk similar to accident aircraft. (Photo by Intersofia via Wikipedia)

A Cessna 172M Skyhawk (registration C-GFVE) crashed while attempting an emergency forced landing on a small road in Argyle, Nova Scotia in Canada.  The pilot suffered serious injuries while the two other occupants were relatively OK in the accident which happened yesterday (March 7, 2010) at 1: 50 PM local time.

The plane was reportedly doing an aerial migratory bird survey for Environment Canada on a flight between Waterville/King’s County Municipal Airport (CCW3) and Yarmouth Airport (CYQI) when an apparent loss of engine power forced the pilot to seek a place for an emergency landing.  The pilot tried landing the plane on Argyle Wharf Road, but failed to set the airplane down on time.  Witnesses say the plane bounced a few times on the road before striking a power line and stop sign, crossing a local highway (Highway 3), and crashing head on into an apple tree.  These surveys are performed at very low altitudes (200 feet or less) which reduce the amount of time a pilot has to seek an adequate emergency landing spot when something goes wrong.

The aircraft was being chartered out of the Greenwood Flight Center in CCW3.  The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the accident.

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