FAST FACTS:
Brown apparently had engine trouble upon takeoff Neighbors call Brown an "excellent" pilot Authorities call recent incidents "random"
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Hernando, MS 10/21/2009) A Hernando man is recovering at The MED, after an afternoon plane crash which trapped him in his small aircraft.
It happened in the "Green Village" subdivision which has its own landing strip and where most residents own and fly their own planes.
Neighbors say Brown is a good pilot with years of experience. That's why today's plane crash surprised them so much.
They don't know of any other incidents he may have had.
But it comes amid what seems like a rash of air incidents.
In the last month, DeSoto County has been the site of at least three aircraft accidents.
The pilot of an ultra light died when he crashed into a bean field.
An Oklahoma man walked away from a crash at the Olive Branch Airport.
And Wednesday afternoon, 66-year-old Roger Brown crashed his small Christian Eagle One at the grass airstrip at the center of his "fly-in" subdivision.
"In my 20 years in law enforcement I've not dealt with many airplane crashes until the last month or so," said DeSoto County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Frank Rainey, who calls them "random" incidents.
Rainey says Brown took off, had engine trouble and turned around to land, fighting gusty winds before he spun out of control landed hard, and became trapped in his plane. "He has a head injury, some contusions." he said.
Hospital Wing airlifted him to The Med.
Experts say despite the recent history here, air travel remains safe.
Prior to 9-11, 1996 was the deadliest year ever for aviation with 344 fatalities in just two incidents.
The next year, the FAA started counting every aircraft that seated more than ten people. That year, fatalities totaled just three.
In 1998 there were zero incidents.
Mark Klair is a highly experienced pilot who lives in the subdivision where the crash took place.
He compares this crash to a traffic accident. "If it's mechanical, then in a car you can just pull over. In an aircraft it's a little trickier because you got to get it back to the runway or somewhere safe," said Klair, a former marine fighter pilot and currently flying, and training pilots at a commercial airline.
He says the small aircraft like the Christian Eagle One, are perfectly safe. "These airplanes have to have a mechanical inspection every year whether they're flown or not, and by an FAA certified mechanic." he said.
Ultralights aren't covered by those rules.
Even so, Klair says the air remains safer than the road. "I feel a lot more confident and safe flying out of here than I do driving up interstate 55."
Authorities say Mr. Brown was disoriented after his crash, due to a head injury. He had some chest injuries and possibly a broken ankle, but should recover just fine. They had some trouble getting him out of his plane, but once they did Hospital Wing was able to get him quickly to The MED.
Brown apparently had engine trouble upon takeoff Neighbors call Brown an "excellent" pilot Authorities call recent incidents "random"
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Hernando, MS 10/21/2009) A Hernando man is recovering at The MED, after an afternoon plane crash which trapped him in his small aircraft.
It happened in the "Green Village" subdivision which has its own landing strip and where most residents own and fly their own planes.
Neighbors say Brown is a good pilot with years of experience. That's why today's plane crash surprised them so much.
They don't know of any other incidents he may have had.
But it comes amid what seems like a rash of air incidents.
In the last month, DeSoto County has been the site of at least three aircraft accidents.
The pilot of an ultra light died when he crashed into a bean field.
An Oklahoma man walked away from a crash at the Olive Branch Airport.
And Wednesday afternoon, 66-year-old Roger Brown crashed his small Christian Eagle One at the grass airstrip at the center of his "fly-in" subdivision.
"In my 20 years in law enforcement I've not dealt with many airplane crashes until the last month or so," said DeSoto County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Frank Rainey, who calls them "random" incidents.
Rainey says Brown took off, had engine trouble and turned around to land, fighting gusty winds before he spun out of control landed hard, and became trapped in his plane. "He has a head injury, some contusions." he said.
Hospital Wing airlifted him to The Med.
Experts say despite the recent history here, air travel remains safe.
Prior to 9-11, 1996 was the deadliest year ever for aviation with 344 fatalities in just two incidents.
The next year, the FAA started counting every aircraft that seated more than ten people. That year, fatalities totaled just three.
In 1998 there were zero incidents.
Mark Klair is a highly experienced pilot who lives in the subdivision where the crash took place.
He compares this crash to a traffic accident. "If it's mechanical, then in a car you can just pull over. In an aircraft it's a little trickier because you got to get it back to the runway or somewhere safe," said Klair, a former marine fighter pilot and currently flying, and training pilots at a commercial airline.
He says the small aircraft like the Christian Eagle One, are perfectly safe. "These airplanes have to have a mechanical inspection every year whether they're flown or not, and by an FAA certified mechanic." he said.
Ultralights aren't covered by those rules.
Even so, Klair says the air remains safer than the road. "I feel a lot more confident and safe flying out of here than I do driving up interstate 55."
Authorities say Mr. Brown was disoriented after his crash, due to a head injury. He had some chest injuries and possibly a broken ankle, but should recover just fine. They had some trouble getting him out of his plane, but once they did Hospital Wing was able to get him quickly to The MED.
