On February 12, 2011, at about 6pm, Lac du Bonnet RCMP as well as local Emergency Services responded to a report of a downed plane in a rural marsh area near the Community of Elma, Manitoba.
The privately owned single engine Piper, based out of Winnipeg, was returning after a day outing to the Whiteshell Provincial Park when it began to experience engine problems.
The experienced 25-year-old male pilot, a resident of Winnipeg, safely landed the ski equipped plane in the open marsh area where the plane became bogged down in deep snow.
A Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Hercules aircraft was dispatched from CFB 17 Wing, Winnipeg, to the area by the Canadian Search and Rescue Centre, CFB Trenton.
The plane was located by the Canadian Forces Hercules crew who remained over head until RCMP members on snowmobiles, assisted by local area residents, arrived at the site at about 9pm.
The pilot and his 20-year-old male passenger, also a resident of Winnipeg, were transported to a waiting ambulance for assessment, and were found to have suffered no injuries as a result of the incident.
The aircraft was undamaged during the emergency landing.
The Transportation Safety Board is continuing with the investigation.
