Kerry Stevenson dies in fatal southern Alberta glider crash
Fatal southern Alberta glider crash death of Kerry Stevenson – Obituary
Kerry Stevenson, a 65-year-old pilot, tragically lost his life in a glider crash in southern Alberta on Wednesday.
The incident occurred south of Highway 7, situated between Diamond Valley and Okotoks. Stevenson was a respected member and former president of the Cu Nim Gliding Club, a figure who significantly influenced the careers of many glider pilots.
The Cu Nim Gliding Club described Stevenson as a dedicated individual who held numerous roles in his life, including being a husband, father, grandfather, Realtor, motorcyclist, and a devoted dog owner.
“Kerry will be fondly remembered and missed by members of the gliding club and the many communities where he made his mark,” the club remarked in a statement.
On Wednesday evening, members of the gliding community gathered at Cu Nim to honor Stevenson’s memory. Throughout his career, Stevenson worked with Royal LePage as a Realtor for several decades.
Corinne Lyall, an owner and broker at Royal LePage Benchmark, described him as “kind, caring, and always positive about life” in an email.
According to reports, during the crash, a 911 caller informed RCMP that the pilot had attempted to eject from the glider. Unfortunately, the parachute did not deploy, leading to a fall of several hundred feet before the glider crashed into a field.
This accident occurred during the Canadian National Soaring Championships, which were being hosted by the Cu Nim Gliding Club. The Transportation Safety Board has since initiated an investigation into the crash.
While the gliding community acknowledges the inherent risks of the sport, they are working on enhancing safety measures, including the adoption of new technologies and improvements in training and licensing.
This is the first fatal glider accident in Canada in three years, as reported by the Alberta Soaring Council.
Jason Acker, president of the Alberta Soaring Council, noted, “We are not proud of these statistics. We are implementing new initiatives to enhance safety, including technology upgrades and changes to our safety culture.
” A previous accident in 2019, during Stevenson’s tenure as president of the Cu Nim Gliding Club, also resulted in fatalities.
In response to the recent crash, Calgary MP Stephanie Kusie has proposed a private member’s bill advocating for GPS technology in gliders, which has passed its first reading.
Fatal southern Alberta glider crash death of Kerry Stevenson – Obituary Kerry Stevenson, a 65-year-old pilot, tragically lost his life in a glider crash in southern Alberta on Wednesday. The incident occurred south of Highway 7, situated between Diamond Valley and Okotoks. Stevenson was a respected member and former president of the Cu Nim Gliding…
Fatal southern Alberta glider crash death of Kerry Stevenson – Obituary Kerry Stevenson, a 65-year-old pilot, tragically lost his life in a glider crash in southern Alberta on Wednesday. The incident occurred south of Highway 7, situated between Diamond Valley and Okotoks. Stevenson was a respected member and former president of the Cu Nim Gliding…