Thursday, May 7, 2015

2007 SONEX SMALL PLANE CRASHES AT KENDALLVILLE AIRPORT, PILOT OK




MAY 7, 2015

KENDALLVILLE, IND. (WANE)

Kendallville police and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating a small single-engine plane crash near the Kendallville Municipal Airport.

Authorities were called to 363 Airport Road shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday. The airport is located about one mile north of the city off State Road 3.

According to Kendallville Police Department Sergeant Doug Davis, the pilot of a 2007 Sonex took off from the airport headed east but made a northward turn to avoid hitting birds which were flying towards the aircraft.

The pilot, Wesley Ortell, lost control and attempted to land the airplane in a grassy area north of the runway, but the aircraft’s nose hit the ground. The plane flipped onto it’s top.

Wesley was not hurt in the crash and authorities said the aircraft had minimal damage.

No other damage or injuries were reported.

The FAA is expected to handle the remaining aspects of the investigation.


Date:
06-MAY-2015
Time:
20:00
Type:
Sonex
Owner/operator:
Private
Registration:
N683DB
C/n / msn:
0691
Fatalities:
Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:
0
Airplane damage:
Minor
Location:
Kendallville Municipal Airport (C62), Kendallville, IN - http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/flags_15/N.gif  United States of America
Phase:
Take off
Nature:
Unknown
Departure airport:
Kendallville Muni (C62)
Destination airport:


Narrative:

The aircraft, an experimental Burton built Sonex, experienced a loss of control during an avian avoidance maneuver shortly after takeoff from Kendallville Municipal Airport (C62), Kendallville, Indiana, and force landed to open field terrain, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained minor damage and the sole pilot onboard was not injured.

Sources: