Aug 26, 2023

Kansas pilot avoids injury after small plane mishap

Posted Aug 26, 2023 7:57 PM
Approximate location of the mishap -Google map
Approximate location of the mishap -Google map

MCPHERSON COUNTY—A Kansas pilot had a mishap with his aircraft just before noon Saturday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1941  Piper Fixed-Wing Single Engine Aircraft piloted by  Justin T.  Coletti, 33, Salina, lost a piece of his door off of the plane.

The aircraft was circling around to locate but landed in a field 500 yards East of 25th Avenue and Arapaho Road southeast of Moundridge.

The pilot aborted the takeoff because there was not enough distance for a safe takeoff and landed again.  While the plane was rolling, the pilot had a hard brake when coming to a stop, nosed into the ground and put a slight dent in the propeller blades. There were no injuries.