Small plane crashes near Deer Lake, N.L., airport, 1st responders on the scene

A small plane crashed Saturday afternoon in Deer Lake, N.L., near the entrance to the town’s airport, RCMP confirmed to CBC. (Lindsay Bird/CBC)

A small plane crashed Saturday at 5:30 p.m. NT near the airport in Deer Lake, N.L., a town of about 5,000 people in western Newfoundland, RCMP confirmed to a CBC reporter on the scene.

First responders are attending, but there’s no word yet of any passengers or casualties. 

Deer Lake Mike Goosney said the crash happened just outside the town. 

“It’s not every day — it’s never that you hear of a plane crash,” Goosney told CBC. “Lots of prayers and thoughts going out to everybody that nobody’s been injured, but I’m not aware at this moment.”

In a post on Facebook, town Coun. Brett Langdon said, “Reports of a small plane crash near the entrance to Deer Lake Regional Airport. The TCH [Trans-Canada Highway] east of Deer Lake is currently shut down in both directions.

“First responders are asking people to please stay away from the area at this time.”

According to Deer Lake’s website, the town is at the crossroads of the Trans-Canada and the Great Northern Peninsula, and a short drive from White Bay. In the heart of Humber Valley, it’s “a vibrant community rich in natural beauty, history and opportunity.”

Plane a Piper Navajo twin engine

Deer Lake Regional Airport CEO Tammy Priddle told CBC the Piper Navajo twin-engine aircraft took off from the airport at 5:27 p.m. 

Priddle said the airport received reports of a crash shortly after.

Fire Rescue, RCMP and N.L. Health Service responded, she said. 

Priddle said the airport’s emergency command centre was “stood up,” meaning it was activated and ready to respond. 

The airport is still operating with flights arriving and departing, she said, adding passengers and family can check with the airport website or the airline for information. 

Priddle said she doesn’t have information right now regarding possible casualties as the RCMP have control of the scene. 

‘We heard a pop and then just big black smoke’

CBC spoke to Dean Major, who said he saw the plane crash while standing in his contracting yard with other workers on the highway near the airport.

While the plane was falling, Major said, smoke appeared to be coming from the right-hand side of the plane and he saw the plane turn, so the cockpit was in view. 

Large clouds of smoke are seen near the crash site. (Lindsay Bird/CBC)

“And we heard a pop and then just big black smoke [was] coming from just all the trees,” said Major. 

He said he drove up the road and found the plane had crashed in a ditch on the Trans-Canada near the Airport Road intersection. 

“It was a ball of fire.” 

Major said he and some other workers went to the crash site and saw the aircraft in flames, but he could not see anyone inside it. 

He called emergency responders, who arrived on scene quickly.

“There was nothing left — just a skeleton of a plane.”