SOUTH WAYNE - No one was seriously injured when a small, private plane crashed in a soybean field north of South Wayne in Lafayette County at about 12:37 p.m. Tuesday, July 10.
The pilot, Charles A. Rautiola, 63, Eagan, Minn., complained of a slight back injury and was taken by ambulance to Monroe Clinic Hospital. His passenger, Richard A. Smith, 62, Burnsville, Minn., reported no injuries.
Lance Notter, 22, Woodford, was working in a nearby field at the time of the accident and saw the plane come in low, circle the field and attempt a landing.
"I kept watching, because I didn't know what he was doing," he said.
Notter said the plane had lost power and "hit the ground hard" when it landed, which broke a wheel off the front landing gear and flipped the plane. Notter, a volunteer fireman, said he called emergency responders and then headed to the scene of the accident on his tractor.
Both Rautiola and Smith had exited the plane by the time Notter reached them.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley reported the plane skidded a short distance before turning over and coming to rest on its wings.
Rautiola told officials on the scene that the aircraft's engine lost oil pressure while in flight and had quit running. He was unable to get the plane to an airport in time to land.
Rautiola put the plane, a 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk, down in a bean field along Mink Farm Road and Lacy Road in the Town of Wayne, about a mile north of Wisconsin 11. Preliminary investigation indicated the aircraft was headed from Indiana to Minnesota.
South Wayne Fire and Rescue, Green County EMS and Lafayette County Sheriff's Department responded to the emergency call. Officials from the Town of Wayne assisted with traffic control at the scene.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials are investigating.
The plane was advertised for sale in Indiana as recently as last week.
The pilot, Charles A. Rautiola, 63, Eagan, Minn., complained of a slight back injury and was taken by ambulance to Monroe Clinic Hospital. His passenger, Richard A. Smith, 62, Burnsville, Minn., reported no injuries.
Lance Notter, 22, Woodford, was working in a nearby field at the time of the accident and saw the plane come in low, circle the field and attempt a landing.
"I kept watching, because I didn't know what he was doing," he said.
Notter said the plane had lost power and "hit the ground hard" when it landed, which broke a wheel off the front landing gear and flipped the plane. Notter, a volunteer fireman, said he called emergency responders and then headed to the scene of the accident on his tractor.
Both Rautiola and Smith had exited the plane by the time Notter reached them.
Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley reported the plane skidded a short distance before turning over and coming to rest on its wings.Rautiola told officials on the scene that the aircraft's engine lost oil pressure while in flight and had quit running. He was unable to get the plane to an airport in time to land.
Rautiola put the plane, a 1974 Cessna 172M Skyhawk, down in a bean field along Mink Farm Road and Lacy Road in the Town of Wayne, about a mile north of Wisconsin 11. Preliminary investigation indicated the aircraft was headed from Indiana to Minnesota.
South Wayne Fire and Rescue, Green County EMS and Lafayette County Sheriff's Department responded to the emergency call. Officials from the Town of Wayne assisted with traffic control at the scene.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials are investigating.
The plane was advertised for sale in Indiana as recently as last week.
Source: http://www.themonroetimes.com
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