Conservationist Charlie Russell crashes ultra-light plane at Piikani Nation

Piikani Fire Chief Floyd Provost checks out the crash site
Cathy Bastien photo

Chris Davis and Toni Lucas - World famous conservationist, writer, and film-maker Charlie Russell crashed his two-person ultra-light plane on hilltop at the Piikani reserve on Wednesday, October 5, at a site south and east of the Brocket townsite.  He was the only occupant. Russell managed to walk to the nearby home of Cathy and Irwin Bastien for help.  Local police, fire, and ambulance responded, and Russell was taken by ambulance to Pincher Creek hospital.  "I'm okay," he said to Voice reporter Toni Lucas from Pincher Creek Hospital on Friday, October 7, declining to say more officially until his head clears.


     The Bastien family, including father Erwin, mother Cathy, daughter Bailey and son Royd, who live just under the hill where the crash happened, had just returned home on Wednesday evening from Pincher Creek.  They had been attending a volleyball tournament at St. Michael's School.   Around 6:30 pm they heard a plane, but thought little of it. "It was really foggy out," explained father Erwin Bastien.  "Almost three-quarters of the hill was covered in fog.  We heard a plane, it was really loud, but we thought they were just flying below the clouds and fog."  About half an hour later son Royd went to get a drink, and saw someone in the backyard.  "I opened the door and asked what he needed," said Erwin. My daughter and I went to him, and he kind of collapsed in the backyard as soon as we go there.  I kept asking him questions, to see if he was in his right mind.  I asked him if there was anyone with him, he said 'no', and we covered him with quilts and put a pillow behind his head, because he asked for it."

     "When we heard the noise, after he landed, he probably couldn't see out of the fog," continued Erwin.  "It rained and the fog lifted a bit.  When we went to the crash he had a tent out and a sleeping bag, like he was going to sleep there. Our big concern was that he make it to the hospital as soon as possible, to get the care he needed.  It was kind of unbelievable as it was going on."

     Erwin and Cathy both emphasized the promptness of the local EMS response.  "Piikani ambulance was very quick to respond," said Erwin.  "The RCMP and the Fire Department were right behind them.  They were all here within minutes.  When there's an emergency they are there quick, they get it right, they make sure the person gets help fast."  Cathy voiced a similar opinion in an earlier interview.  "Floyd Provost, our Fire Chief, did a really good job that night," she said.

     Russell, who is in his early 70's, is a world-famous conservationist who calls Waterton his home.  He grew up at the "Hawk's Nest" just outside of Waterton, and is the son of the late Andy Russell, who was also a famed film-maker and trail guide. Charlie is a bear expert, and co-wrote several books with Maureen Enns on the subject, including "Grizzly Seasons: Life with the Brown Bears of Kamchatka", "Grizzly Heart: Living Without Fear Among the Brown Bears of Kamchatka", as well as the solo-penned "Spirit Bear".  His Films include "Walking with Giants: The Grizzlies of Siberia" and "Bear Man of Kamchatka (aka Edge of Eden)" which was aired on CBC's "The Nature of Things with David Suzuki".

     According to an article by David F. Rooney of the Revelstoke Current newspaper, and the Atlin RCMP, Russell crashed his ultra-light plane shortly after takeoff at Atlin May, 2010 after encounter gusty winds.  He walked away from that crash as well, with no injuries reported.  This time around it appears he wasn't quite as lucky, sustaining some injury in the most recent crash.  According to the same article, Russell is a 20 year veteran pilot.

     According to Brocket eyewitnesses, his ultra-light plane was taken away on a trailer on Thursday evening, October 6, with the wings appearing to be separated from the fuselage.

Piikani Nation RCMP Press Release:

On October 5, 2011, Piikani Nation RCMP received a report of a plane crash on the Piikani Nation reserve.  Police, fire, and ambulance responded.  The crash site was located three km south of Highway 3 on Range Road 280 away from any roads or structures.   The plane was a small two-person ultra-light aircraft with only the pilot on board.   The pilot was able to walk away from the crash and get assistance at a nearby residence.  The aircraft was traveling from Lac La Biche to Twin Butte and had experienced bad weather before the crash.  The pilot was taken from the scene in ambulance and has been hospitalized because of his injuries.  The transportation safety board has been notified of the incident and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.