Pilot Dies in Plane Crash at Cold Lake Air Show

Around 2:00 pm a plane crashed at the Cold Lake Airshow.The plane has been identified as a T-28 Trojan aircraft, piloted by Bruce Evans, of Calgary. Officials have confirmed that Evans has died as a result of the crash.

According to his Cold Lake Air Show bio, Evans was 59 years old and born in Marville, France. Evans’ father was in the military, stationed with the RCA. In his bio, Evans’ lists North Bay, Ontario as his hometown and attending university in Kingston at Queen’size University. He would commute back and forth in a Cessna 127 aircraft.

Evans was the president and CEO of Firefly Airborne Survey and a geologist by trade. Evans was described as an experienced flyer with over 4000 hours of experience.

Photo Credit Trisha Hartman

Witnesses describe the incident as a “serious” single plane crash, with no known injuries to the public. It is not known what caused the crash, though it appeared Evans was attempting a loop. Weather conditions were clear, with only a few clouds in the sky.

MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake, Scott Cyr send his condolences to the friends and family of the pilot.  “It is with a heavy heart that I recognize the passing of Mr. Bruce Evans following a T-28 Trojan aircraft crash at the Cold Lake Air Show this weekend. Mr. Evans was an experienced pilot who was lost far too soon as a result of this accident. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

FIREFLY AVIATION

Bruce “Frac” Evans lives in Calgary, Alberta. Bruce is a professional Geologist who is involved in resource exploration throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa. Bruce attended Queen’s University at Kingston. Growing up in an Air Force family the Evans’ traveled throughout Canada. Bruce’s father was initially an aircraft maintenance engineer, who later re-mustered to become a radar specialist. Growing up in the Air Force Bruce developed an interest in aviation, which was further fostered when the family purchased a Cessna 172. The Cessna became the airline for travel to and from university.

Throughout Bruce’s resource exploration career, aircraft were an important asset and were used extensively, both for transportation and in the completion of geophysical surveys. Bruce eventually started his own Airborne Geophysical Survey Company to support his projects.

After a long search for the ideal Warbird in 2007 Bruce purchased his T-28B Trojan. The T-28 is the last of the big piston engine military aircraft built. The T-28 served with the US Navy between 1954 and 1983, when the T-28 flight was retired. Bruce’s T-28 was manufactured in 1955 and served in the US Navy with Squadron VT-27 “Boomers” at Corpus Christi Texas for the majority of her career. Up to 1983 almost every US Naval Aviator trained in the T-28, and would have received their Carrier Qualification on the T-28C. A little known fact is that numerous Canadian military pilots trained on the T-28 at US Naval Air Station Pensacola and received their carrier qualifications there, before returning to Canada and flying off the RCN aircraft carriers. The T-28 is an extraordinary aircraft, she is surprisingly large at a gross takeoff weight of just under 9000 pounds, delivers jet-like performance with the help of her 1425 horsepower Wright Cyclone R-1820 radial engine, and is very maneuverable.

Bruce holds an Airline Transport Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating, a T-28 Endorsement, and a low level aerobatic clearance to 250’. Throughout his career Bruce has accumulated over 4100 hours of flight time experience.

-BIO from the Cold Lake Air Show 

 

Witnesses say the plane that had crashed was similar to this plane on display with different paint scheme
Photo credit: Rob Hole

Photo credit: Rob Hole

Photo credit: Rob Hole

Photo credit: Rob Hole

*LCN will keep you posted as this story develops