Area resident, 47, killed after ultralight aircraft crashes in Musquash River area by Georgian Bay
Sep 23, 2008 04:30 AM
Carmen Chai
Staff Reporter

The body of an ultralight aircraft pilot who went missing after flying from Barrie has been found near wreckage in Georgian Bay Township.

The ultralight was discovered yesterday afternoon in a remote area near the mouth of the Musquash River. Lachlan MacLean, 47, was found dead a short distance away, OPP said.

Police are helping Transport Canada and the Ontario coroner's office investigate the crash.

MacLean, who lived in nearby Springwater Township, flew out of Edenvale Flying Club airfield in Clearview Township at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

He was flying a Highcraft Buccaneer SX ultralight aircraft with a white body and red wings.

MacLean's intention was to fly up to Beausoleil Island in nearby Georgian Bay and then make the return trip to the Edenvale airfield.

He was supposed to finish the trip by 2 p.m. When MacLean hadn't returned by 3:30 p.m., the flying club reported him missing.

It's the third death of the pilot at the controls of a small aircraft in three weeks.

On Sept. 11, police pulled the body of Iqbal Rupani of Richmond Hill from Lake Simcoe, still strapped into the pilot cage of his motorized paraglider.

On Sept. 6, John Townsend, 54, of King City was killed when his motorized hang-glider crashed a half-kilometre south of Volks Aerodrome in Tottenham. His body was found the next day.

To obtain a permit to operate an ultralight plane, pilots need to complete at least 10 hours of practice with an instructor, and 20 hours of classroom time. In ground school, trainees are instructed on safety, radio communication and aerodynamics. Three tests are also given to fledgling pilots before they're supposed to fly on their own.

Onofrio Spatola, office manager of the Edenvale Ultralight School, wouldn't say how much experience MacLean had in the aircraft, adding: "He rents hangar space at the facility." Spatola said the Highcraft Buccaneer that MacLean was flying could land on water and on land. "It's not a basic ultralight."

Spatola said the weather on Sunday was perfect for flying. "There were very low winds and lots of visibility. I don't know what went wrong."