A small plane crashed on Highway 97 near Osoyoos, B.C. early Tuesday evening.

The 45 year-old pilot was the only person onboard the small, four-seater, single-engine plane.

RCMP Cpl. Jason Bayda says the plane lost power; the pilot then tried to land on the highway but clipped the trailer of a semi truck on its way down and slammed into a pole.

"It's very fortunate that he's alive, that's for sure," said Bayda. "He does have significant injuries and we can just pray that he's going to be OK."

Bayda says the pilot, a temporary Osoyoos resident originally from Surrey, B.C., sustained significant second and third-degree burns on most of this body.

He has been airlifted to a hospital in either Kelowna or Vancouver for treatment.

The aircraft burst into flames shutting down Highway 97 as emergency responders put the fire out and investigated the cause of the accident.

'I just heard a big crash'

The plane landed eight meters in front of the home of Nick Bains.

​"I was just watching TV and I see the power lines kind of move," said Bains. "I thought that was kind of odd and then I just heard a big crash."

When he stepped out of his house, Bains saw the aircraft on fire and called 911 immediately.

Bains said his first concern was for the pilot's safety. He then worried about the flames potentially spreading to nearby homes and trees.

It's not yet clear why the plane lost power.

The Transportation Safety Board will be taking over the investigation.