On August 26, 2012 at 4 p.m., Crowsnest Pass RCMP received notice of a single engine aircraft crash near Chimney Rock Road, in Chain Lakes area. Members from Turner Valley, Nanton and Crowsnest Pass responded to the incident and through witness reports, triangulated an area to begin a search. The Cessna 172 was found just before 6 p.m., resting in a creek bed.

The sole occupant was the 38 year old, male pilot from Spruce Grove, Alberta who was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was employed by an Edmonton company and believed to be flying pipeline inspections.

Sergeant Keith Bott of the Crowsnest Pass RCMP said that plane had struck one side of the bank, bounced to the other and settled at the bottom of the small valley in the creek. Bott stated that there was no water in the cockpit when the plane was discovered.

Eye witnesses say the plane was making strange noises, flying extremely low to the ground and in a manner that naturally drew their attention.

There were no weather conditions that would contribute to the crash.

The pilot's name has not yet been released and the incident is currently being investigated by Transportation Canada.