Calgary pilots grateful for Moose Jaw hospitality after engine failure

MOOSE JAW – Calgary businessmen Charlie Pastuszka and Josh Fong recently enjoyed Moose Jaw’s warm hospitality after their plane suffered engine failure and they were forced to land at the city’s airport.

Pastuszka and Fong bought a used 1965 Citabria aircraft in Winnipeg on May 5 and, after refueling, began the flight to Cowtown, which they expected to be uneventful. The only refueling stop was in Regina.

“I should have noticed that something was wrong from the small drops of oil coming out of the drain pipe,” Pastuszka told the Express by email. “However, the plane has not flown much in the last year, which sometimes causes drops, so I didn't think anything of it.

“Unfortunately, for us, this was a treacherous foretaste of even bigger problems to come.”

The duo had a tailwind as they left Regina, which helped them quickly reach and pass through Moose Jaw Municipal Airport. However, they noticed the plane's engine oil temperature rising and oil pressure dropping, indicating either an internal engine problem or a lack of engine oil.

Pastuszka and Fong checked a map and debated whether to continue to Swift Current or divert to Moose Jaw; they chose the latter option.

After what felt like an eternity, as the men were more than 100 kilometers from the airport and flying into a strong headwind, they landed without incident.

“The events that followed were a true testament to the kindness and generosity of the Moose Jaw community,” said Pastuszka.

He remembered that the Provincial Airways maintenance shop was closed because it was Sunday, so they had to call the on-call telephone hotline. They managed to reach one of the Airways mechanics, who was enjoying the afternoon with his family at the Buffalo Pound, but he offered to help as they drove back to Moose Jaw.

The mechanic spent an hour fixing the plane's problem, which was an oil drain plug. Pastuszka and Fong thanked the man and took to the skies over the prairie, but the same problem resurfaced and they decided – based on their combined 26 years of flying – to return to Moose Jaw.

They returned and parked their plane just as the sun was setting, dashing their hopes of reaching Calgary that day. Pastuszka also contacted John Humbert, an aircraft mechanic with decades of experience working on civilian and military aircraft. The mechanic agreed to help them.

A free rental car was available at the airport, which the two businessmen greatly appreciated as they drove to a hotel for the night “and enjoyed a much-needed debriefing beer.”

The next day, a windy and rainy day, Humbert met the businessmen at the airport where he had arranged a hangar space for their planes to be repaired. Scott Anicknap, a hangar renter, allowed some planes to be brought into his hangar and offered the Calgary residents a fair rental price.

By May 7, Humbert, Fong and Pastuszka had removed the plane's engine and placed it on a pallet to be taken to an engine repair shop in Calgary. The two businessmen were then given a ride to Regina by a Provincial Airways employee and flew home on a commercial flight.

A few weeks later, the aircraft was partially disassembled and shipped to Alberta, where it received a new engine. Mechanics discovered that the original engine had a catastrophic defect and would have failed completely after a few more hours of operation.

“When I think about the events of the last few months, I can't help but think that the question was not: 'Will anyone help us?', but: 'Who wouldn't help us?'” said Pastuszka.

“Everyone we spoke to or interacted with at the Moose Jaw (Municipal) Airport was understanding of our situation and wanted to do everything they could to make sure that both of us – three of us, if you count our plane! – were taken care of.”

Pastuszka thanked Moose Jaw for its hospitality, which was a comfort during this stressful time. Even before the men began removing the engine, other hangar tenants invited them to “hangar chats” where they exchanged stories and networked with other pilots.

“You all put a positive spin on a bad situation and demonstrated the kindness of your community that I will never forget,” he added.