One man is dead and one woman is in hospital with serious life-threatening injuries following a small plane crash in Alberta.

RCMP say the crash happened shortly after 3:30 yesterday (fri) afternoon just outside of the Springbank Airport near Highway 1.

Cochrane RCMP along with EMS crews and fire services responded to the scene and located two occupants. The 45-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene while the 22-year-old woman was taken to a Calgary hospital.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The Transportation Safety Board has been notified.