David Macanally/Eyewitness News
April 9, 2004, Marion - A student pilot and his instructor have quite a story of survival to tell. An attempt at practice resulted in a crash. The crash happened in Grant County near the Marion Airport.
Federal Investigators at the crash site south of Marion are in search for a cause. The student pilot and instructor on board were shooting take off and landings and had just taken off and headed northwest. The plane would have followed a course that headed across the field, but something went wrong.
One nearby witness, Bill Wimmer said, "I was working in front of the house and I could hear the engine going. It wasn't running right and he was trying but couldn't do anything. I thought he was going to get the telephone line, but the plane missed the telephone line.
Sheriff Otess Archey of Grant County said, "Evidently they saw the trees and felt they couldn't clear the trees and put down in the cornfield."
The emergency landing was rough but it worked.
Witness Wimmer said, "He hollered out the window about 911 the other guy got calling I got to him he was talking about turning the key off the key was still on."
With fuel leaking from a wing tank rescue crews had to cut one of the men from the wreck. Both went to hospitals but fortunately injuries were not serious.
