Pilot dies in small plane crash in B.C.'s East Kootenay, RCMP say

RCMP say the pilot of a plane is dead after it crashed in British Columbia's East Kootenay region on Friday.

Columbia Valley RCMP say in a news release that they received a report of a small plane crashing on the Bugaboo side of the valley on Friday afternoon.

Mounties say a hunter witnessed the plane with what appeared to be engine trouble and saw it go down in a wooded area.

The Columbia Valley Search and Rescue and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre responded, RCMP said.

Police say the crash site was found the next day and the pilot and sole occupant aboard did not survive.

The RCMP say the pilot was a local area resident and their condolences go out to the person's family.

The Transportation Safety Board says its team is gathering information and assessing the incident.