A plane crashed in Newaygo County last Saturday, but fortunately, the 67-year-old pilot from Lake City was not injured. According to the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office, the single-engine aircraft flipped over in a field after making a hard landing near the intersection of 72nd Street and Felch Avenue in Garfield Township.
The pilot, who intended to fly from Lake City to South Haven, was forced to attempt an emergency landing around 9:30 a.m. due to the plane running out of gas. Interestingly, the authorities believe the reason for the fuel shortage was a mistake made by the pilot who misread the fuel gauge during the pre-flight inspection. This detail was shared in a report from WOODTV.
Responding to the crash, deputies along with the Newaygo Fire Department found the plane overturned but with a pilot who managed to walk away without harm. In an update provided by the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office via a social media post, the officials explained, "The plane made a hard landing which caused landing gear damage and the plane eventually flipped onto its roof."
Further investigations into the incident have already been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Sheriff's Office emphasized the pilot's fortunate escape from injury in their statement, which was also described in the update by the Newaygo County Sheriff's Office: "The pilot was able to exit the plane uninjured." The community awaits more details as the investigation continues, with the Sheriff's Office promising to provide further information once received from the FAA.
