dog survives plane crash

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Searchers find dog that survived plane crash that killed owner


Parks Canada employees found Rusty, a six-year-old border collie, a short distance from the mountainside where Ed Fedaj died when his single-engine plane crashed Wednesday afternoon.
Photograph by: Handout, Parks Canad

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CALGARY — Searchers have found the pet dog that survived unharmed following a plane crash in Yoho National Park that killed its owner.

Parks Canada employees found Rusty, a six-year-old border collie, a short distance from the mountainside where Ed Fedaj died when his single-engine plane crashed Wednesday afternoon.

Fedaj, 59, was flying home to Williams Lake, B.C. after visiting relatives in southern Alberta.

The dog will live with Fedaj's younger brother, Ted.

"There's not a scratch on him," Ted said from the family's farm near Champion, 80 kilometres southeast of Calgary.

Searchers found Fedaj's Cessna 180 at an elevation of about 1,500 metres on the side of Mount King, near Golden, B.C.

Authorities quickly removed Fedaj's body due to a high avalanche risk, but were unable to follow tracks leading away from the wreckage to find Rusty before leaving the scene.

The dog's survival is a small blessing amid the family's mourning for Fedaj, whom Ted called "the nicest guy you ever saw."

The brothers were partners in the family farm near Champion, and expanded their business about a decade ago by buying a ranch near Williams Lake.

Fedaj ran the ranch until a few years ago, when both brothers decided to retire. Fedaj took up flying and acquired his pilot's licence about four years ago.

About two years ago, he bought the Cessna, which he kept at an airstrip in Springhouse, near Williams Lake.

"He loved to fly and he loved life," Ted said.

The B.C. Coroners Service and the federal Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, but haven't determined what caused it.

Original source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Search...z1L8glF3WY