7 p.m. update on Espanola plane crash

OPP MEDIA RELEASE

************************* Plane crash - McKerrow

ESPANOLA, ON – (March 18) - at 3:15 p.m. members of the Espanola OPP Detachment responded to a plane crash in a farmer's field on Van Alstine Road, McKerrow.

Investigation reveals that the male pilot left Guelph and was en route to Elliot Lake.

Prior to his departure, he calculated that he would have three hours and thirty-six minutes of flying time.

After two hours of flying, the pilot noticed that his fuel gauge was reading "empty" and at this time, he called in a distress call and looked for a place to land.

As he set the plane down in the field, the front wheel got caught in the snow and the plane flipped over on its roof.

He managed to crawl out the window and was assisted by the owner of the property.

The pilot, who was the lone occupant, was treated for minor back injuries and released from the Espanola General Hospital.

The licenced pilot is identified as Chitranshu Kalra, age 25, who is from New Dehlhi, India but is temporarily residing in Guelph.

Transport Canada was notified and is continuing the investigating into this crash.

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