Author: Heidi Kronaizl, Digital Media Producer, h_kronaizl@kdlt.com
Updated On: Sep 02 2016 07:03:40 PM CDT
VIBORG, S.D. -
UPDATE: The second plane crash this week in the Sioux Empire happened this morning in Turner County. This time, the outcome was deadly. Two lives were claimed in the fiery wreck.
“People told me it looked like it just nosedived into the fields,” says resident Ordell Oswald.
Friday morning, a plane crashed into Oswald's cornfield in rural Viborg, just off Highway 18. The Turner County Sheriff's Office says a neighbor alerted authorities about the wreck after hearing a "thud" and other noises outside. Investigators say the plane burst into flames on impact and the two people on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
“We're still looking into it. We're really early into this investigation so we don't know exactly where it came from for sure,” says Turner County Sheriff Byron Nogelmeier.
Officials are working to figure out the details, like what type of plane was involved, why it crashed and the identities of the two victims.
Investigators needed Oswald’s help, since he owns the land.
“They asked me to take my payloader and I went through the field and knocked down the corn to the site,” he explains.
But, even as he approached the scene, Oswald didn't learn much about the crash.
“I was within about 50 feet of the site within the cornfield and I did not see anything.”
Leaving many questions that officials say they'll work to answer as the investigation continues.
The FAA and Turner County Sheriff's Office are heading up the investigation.
A separate plane crash happened Tuesday north of Sioux Falls. Two people were on board and were not hurt.
PREVIOUS STORY: KDLT News has confirmed that there has been a plane crash in rural Turner County.
According to Turner County authorities, the plane crashed near 291st Street and 445 Avenue, west of Viborg.
KDLT has a crew in route to the scene. Stay with KDLT News as this story develops.
Copyright © 2016, KDLT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Posted: Fri 10:36 AM, Sep 02, 2016 |
Updated: Fri 6:05 PM, Sep 02, 2016
Two people died in a small plane Friday in Turner County, authorities say.
The plane crashed around 10:00 a.m. just west of Viborg. According to Turner County Sheriff Byron Nogelmeier, two people were on board the plane. Neither survived the crash.
The plane was a small single-engine plane, according to Lincoln County dispatch, which handles emergency calls for Turner County.
"The death of somebody when that happens is tragic," said Sheriff Nogelmeier.
A loud boom and the ground shaking -- that's what neighbors say they heard and felt Friday morning.
"The call came in about 10 this morning from a neighbor here that heard the plane sputtering and making some engine-type noise, like it was having difficulties, and then he thought he heard a crash," said Sheriff Nogelmeier.
Sheriff Nogelmeier says there are still a lot of unknowns.
"I have no idea where they were coming from or where they were going to," said Sheriff Nogelmeier.
The wreckage deep in the corn field, payloaders are being used to pave a clear path to the plane.
"It's kind of scary. It gives you goosebumps to think that a plane crash happened so close to you," said Juanita O'Gorman.
Living just one mile away from the fatal crash, O'Gorman can't believe this is the second plane crash this week.
"The other one was a happy ending but this one wasn't. I feel bad for the family and people in the crash. I do," said O'Gorman.
"We feel bad for the individuals on the plane and their families when they find out what happened. Our prayers go out to them," said Sheriff Nogelmeier.
This is the second plane crash in southeast South Dakota this week. Two people aboard a small airplane escaped injury when it crash-landed near the Sioux Falls airport Tuesday.
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Date:
02-SEP-2016
Time: 10:00
Type: Airplane
Owner/operator:
Registration:
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Turner County west of Viborg, SD -
United States of America Phase: Unknown
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted cornfield terrain west of Viborg, South Dakota. The airplane was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the two occupants onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://m.kdlt.com/news/two-people-dead-in-turner-county-plane-crash/41486346
http://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Small-plane-crashes-near-Viborg-392156731.html
https://www.google.com/maps/place/29098+445th+Ave,+Viborg,+SD+57070/@43.1694387,-97.2980902,17z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x878f10d289920333:0x446f835ae141cba5?hl=en-us