LAVALTRIE- A pilot flying an ultralight aircraft died Saturday night after a late afternoon crash in Lavaltrie, 50 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

First responders who arrived at the scene of the crash transported the driver to the hospital, where his death was confirmed. The man in his 50s had suffered serious injuries to his head and leg.

According to Surete du Quebec Sgt. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, the pilot left Mascouche, alone aboard his ultralight plane at an unspecified time.

He sent a distress signal just before 4:25 p.m.. Less than a minute later, he attempted an emergency landing in a field.

In a statement released early Saturday evening, the office of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced that it was sending a team to the crash site to gather information and assess what happened.