65-year-old pilot dead after glider crash near Diamond Valley

A pilot described as a respected member of Alberta’s gliding community died in a glider crash near Diamond Valley Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Alberta, the Turner Valley detachment received a distress call at around 1:30 p.m. reporting that a small, non-motorized glider had crashed in a field south of Highway 7, about 60 kilometers south of Calgary.

RCMP, EMS and Diamond Valley Fire Rescue responded to the scene and found the glider and the pilot, a 65-year-old Calgary resident, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident occurred during the Canadian National Gliding Championships, a two-week event held at the Cu Nim Gliding Club east of Diamond Valley.

Jason Acker, president of the Alberta Soaring Council, told CBC News that the pilot’s name would not be released at this time, but said he has competed in many national gliding championships.

Since the incident occurred during a competition, according to Acker, there were witnesses to the accident and the emergency services were quickly on site.

“After determining that this was a fatality, the RCMP and Transportation Safety Board were notified and they will continue the investigation,” Acker said.

Patrick McMahon, president of the Cu Nim Gliding Club, and Christopher Gough, the club’s chief flying instructor, said in a press release that the pilot was a long-time former club president who had a passion for gliding and would be missed by many.

“This deceased pilot was an experienced glider pilot, an active and reliable gliding instructor and a regular participant in competitions.

“Out of respect for the ongoing Transportation Safety Board investigation and to the family of the deceased, we ask that the privacy of family, friends and colleagues affected by this loss be respected during this difficult time,” the statement said.

Acker said the future of this year’s competition would be decided at a meeting on Wednesday evening.

“The organizing committee and officials will meet with the pilots this evening to … make a decision whether to continue the competition or whether to end it so that the club members, competitors and the community can come together and mourn the loss of their colleague,” he said.