Tributes Are Paid To A 'Larger Than Life' Pilot Killed In A Plane Crash Near Calgary
A 22-year-old passenger also suffered "life-threatening" injuries.
A pilot who was killed in a plane crash near a Calgary airport has now been identified.
RCMP said a privately-registered Mooney M20K came down just north of Highway 1 at around 3.30 p.m. on April 22 outside of Springbank Airport, west of Calgary in Rocky View County. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Dad of two Michael James Wilton was declared dead at the scene and a passenger, identified by CTV as 22-year-old Megan Gallagher, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Wilton, who was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan before later moving to Calgary, was described as "the centre of every party" in a tribute on his company's website.
The 45-year-old was the president of aircraft sales company FlightSimple, which said that "he was larger than life, with a great sense of fun, a booming laugh and a generous heart."
"Mike was a pilot, an entrepreneur, and an adventurer who never turned down the chance to have fun, or lend a helping hand [...] Blue Skies and Tailwinds, Mike, you will be so sorely missed," the tribute added.
According to the tribute, Mike moved to Winnipeg for Grade 10 and attended Kevin High School where he was drafted to the school’s football team.
He then took a petroleum engineering degree at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology before a career in the oil industry in Lloydminster and Calgary. He then launched his own business, Flightsimple.
He leaves behind his partner, two children, mother and siblings.
