Troopers from the Bucyrus Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are currently investigating a single engine fixed wing airplane crash. At approximately 5 :49 PM the Bucyrus Post received a call of an aircraft on its top in a tilled field on Marion Melmore Road between Benton Road and Brokensword Road.
Troopers determined that the pilot of the aircraft William A. Blank, age 73 of La Crosse, Wisconsin was traveling from Wisconsin to Mansfield Lahm Airport when the aircraft’s engine sustained a possible fuel starvation issue. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success and was forced to make an off airport landing in a tilled field west of Marion Melmore Road. The pilot was successful in the landing, however prior to the aircraft coming to a complete stop the front of the aircraft nosedived due to striking an area of uneven terrain causing the aircraft to flip on its top.
The pilot was secured in the cockpit by a five-point harness and did not sustain any injuries from the crash. The 2005 American Champion Super Decathlon single engine fixed wing aircraft sustained moderate damage to the propeller and wings.
The FAA was contacted and the plane was removed from the scene by an aircraft recovery service.
The Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the Sycamore Fire and EMS.
About Marion Online News
