One dead after small plane crashes in Brant County

One person is dead after a small aircraft crashed in Brant County late Monday afternoon.

Brant County OPP said officers responded to the crash near the Brantford Municipal Airport on Aviation Avenue around 5:20 p.m.

“Witness accounts indicate that [the plane] appeared to be on approach, but that’s still to be determined,” Brant County OPP Const. Conrad Vitalis told CTV News.

Early Tuesday afternoon, police identified the deceased as John Bacon, 57, from Hamilton.

Esri Canada confirmed Bacon worked as a Program Director in the Geospatial Infrastructure Department.

“Our hearts go out to John’s family and we are keeping them in our thoughts,” a statement from the company said in part.

Bacon joined Esri Canada in January after spending nine years working for the City of Hamilton as a Senior Project Manager in their I.T. division.

In a statement to CTV they said: "Our sincere condolences go out to John's family and to his many friends and colleagues during this most difficult time; he will be missed."

Brant County Fire Chief Geoff Hayman said about 20 firefighters also responded to the scene and were forced to walk about 400 metres with extrication equipment because the ground near the wreckage was too soft for large vehicles.

“We were able to get out there at the time of the crash. Since then it’s rained, so it’s a little more difficult,” Const. Vitalis said.

The victim was transported to hospital by paramedics where they were pronounced dead, said OPP.

Police said the crash happened in an open field and no other structures or vehicles were involved. Fire crews used absorbent material to clean aviation fuel leaking from the wreckage.

According to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB), the plane involved was a Cessna 172RG.

The Brantford Flying Club said the plane was owned by the club.

“The aircraft was being piloted by a long-time Brantford Flying Club Member on a recreational flight, who unfortunately perished in the accident,” a notice on the club’s website said in part. “I’m sure you will join me and the BFC team in sharing our condolences with the family and friends of the pilot.”

OPP held the scene overnight, TSB investigators arrived Tuesday morning.

“At this point, it’s too early to share the details,” said John Duma with the TSB, adding crews have collected data at the site.

Duma said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Investigators are now looking for electronic data to gather more details about the crash.

Ornge Air Ambulance confirmed it also responded to the crash but was not needed to transport anyone to hospital.