The Transportation Safety Board says a single-engine plane (Beechcraft Bonanza) crashed on a highway north of Osoyoos at about 5pm Tuesday.

Spokesman Bill Yearwood says the plane ended up on Highway 97 and its only occupant escaped before flames engulfed the aircraft.

Yearwood says investigators don’t know why the plane crashed.

Yearwood said the 4 seater was travelling from Oliver to Boundary Bay airport when it lost power, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

A witness said the plane clipped a semi-trailer truck on the roof as it tried to land and exploded into flames after missing a house by about 30 metres.

Yearwood says the agency is assessing the incident to determine what level of investigation will be necessary.

The road is open to traffic.

The injured pilot was airlifted from SO General Hospital last night at 8 o’clock by air ambulance.

The 46 year-old man from Surrey was the only person onboard the Beechcraft.

RCMP Cpl. Jason Bayda says the plane lost power with the pilot then trying to land on the highway.

“It’s very fortunate that he’s alive, that’s for sure,” said Bayda. “He does have significant injuries and we can just pray that he’s going to be OK.”

Bayda says the pilot, a temporary Osoyoos resident originally from Surrey sustained significant second and third-degree burns on most of this body.

The plane landed eight meters in front of the home of Nick Bains.

​”I was just watching TV and I see the power lines kind of move,” said Bains. “I thought that was kind of odd and then I just heard a big crash.”

When he stepped out of his house, Bains saw the aircraft on fire and called 911 immediately.

Bains said his first concern was for the pilot’s safety.

source: cbc and castanet