One confirmed dead in plane crash near Anderson airport

Ken de la Bastide, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
·2 min read

Sep. 6—CHESTERFIELD — Federal officials are investigating a single-engine plane crash Friday that left at least one person dead.

Capt. Darwin Dwiggins with the Madison County Sheriff's Department said officials received a call at 9:50 a.m. reporting the crash in the 4200 block of East County Road 100 South.

Dwiggins said the plane left Fort Dodge, Iowa at 6:48 a.m. and was expected to land at the Anderson Municipal Airport at 9:54 a.m.

He said the plane made an initial approach to the airfield and the pilot was told he was too high and to make another approach to a different runway.

"A witness said the plane flipped or rolled and dove into the cornfield," Dwiggins said.

He said the flight plan filed showed there may have been four people on the plane, but it was not known how many people were on board at the time of the crash.

The Fort Dodge Messenger reported there were four people on the plane.

Dwiggins confirmed at least one person died in the crash.

"No one survived the crash," he said. "The plane was registered to a company. It's going to be a long process."

Dwiggins said officials the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were en route to investigate the accident.

"This is an unusual circumstance for Madison County," he said. "It's a tragedy any time there is a loss of life."

Vickie Sullinger, who works at the nearby Ameri-Turf company, said she and her coworkers heard the plane.

"I can't confirm that we heard the propeller," she said.

"We heard the plane go over the building, then a loud thud and it rattled the building," she continued. "It didn't sound right. We came outside and saw the smoke and I called 911."

Sullinger said she couldn't imagine a family getting a call with the news.

"I don't know if we could have done anything because of the fire and smoke," she said. "I'm praying for the family."

The Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by the East Madison Fire Territory and Madison County Emergency Management Agency.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.