Float plane sinks off Naramata shoreline

PENTICTON – Police were alerted by the air and marine section of the Emergency Response Service of a sunken float plane off the Naramata shoreline on Saturday, July 9.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the plane was noticed by a helicopter pilot who flew over it.

The plane was located in a small bay immediately south of Robinson Point in Naramata.

Police say the plane sank while moored, and was not in motion at the time.

Naramata resident Peter Graham says the plane began sinking on Thursday, July 7 around 5 p.m., and was completely submerged by 8 that evening.

Graham believes the plane was a vintage Stinson, similar to a Cessna 185. He says the plane was re-floated and hauled away on a flat deck after the wings were removed on Sunday, July 10.

A hazmat team reported no toxic substances noted leaking from the stricken plane, event though it remained in the water for several days.

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