Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Minneapolis, Minnesota
At about 6:52 a.m. on Friday, July 29, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a plane crash on State Highway 35 and County Road E in Pierce County.
Aircraft experienced engine issues, crashed near a highway and ended up in a ditch.
Date: 29-JUL-22
Time: 11:52:00Z
Regis#: N1557S
Aircraft Make: SONEX
Aircraft Model: SONEX
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: PRESCOTT
State: WISCONSIN
TOWN OF OAK GROVE (Pierce County), Wisconsin (WEAU) - One person is hurt after an aircraft crash in Pierce County near Prescott Friday.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said a 69-year-old man from Inver Grove Heights, Minn. was piloting a Sonex experimental aircraft when it lost power and crashed at 6:52 a.m. Friday on Highway 35 near County Highway E, or roughly halfway between Prescott and Ellsworth.
The Sheriff’s Office said the man attempted to make an emergency landing on Highway 35, but his aircraft struck multiple road signs. The aircraft skidded across the highway and stopped in the west ditch. The pilot was taken by ambulance to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Prescott Fire Department, Allina Medical Services and the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is investigating the crash.
Experimental aircraft are licensed by the FAA and certificates are granted in particular to aircraft that are built without the supervision and quality control of the producer of the aircraft, according to the FAA.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation said Highway 35 was closed for about four hours due to the crash.
It was determined that Steven Hulse, 69 from Inver Grove Heights, was operating a Sonex experimental aircraft when he lost engine power. Hulse attempted to make an emergency landing on State Highway 35 and County Road E when his airplane struck multiple road signs.
The aircraft skidded across Highway 35 and came to rest in the west ditch.
Hulse was transported from the scene by Allina Medical Service to Regions hospital in Saint Paul with undetermined injuries.
Assisting the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office on scene was the Prescott Fire Department, Allina Medical Services and the Federal Aviation Administration.
This accident is still under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Wow that's a pristine-looking Sonex! Speedy recovery to the pilot and I hope the little bird can be repaired.
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