VERNON, BC – At around 3:15 PM today RCMP from the Lumby office were called to a report of a small plane that had crashed shortly after taking off from the Mable Lake Air strip.

Family members were watching the plane as it took off and then attempted to return to the landing strip on two occasions. On the third attempt, the aircraft appeared to shake heavily then crashed in a field that is owned by the family.

The plane caught fire on impact. Fire and Ambulance personal attended the scene of the crash; both men were deceased in the wreckage. Weather was unsettled and winds were heavy at the time.

The pilot is 53 yrs old believed from the Lumby area, and the passenger a family member age 45 also from the Lumby area.

Transport Canada was notified and they will not be attending the crash site, the BC Coroners service and the RCMP are continuing this investigation.