Emergency personnel work the scene of a small aircraft that crashed into a field west of The Eastern Iowa Airport on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, in southwest Cedar Rapids.(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS — A single-engine fixed wing Cessna airplane crashed in a field a half mile west of Eastern Iowa Regional Airport at around 8 p.m. Saturday, injuring its three passengers.
KCRG-TV9 spoke to Monticello Airport Manager Paul Elmegreen who said that the three people on the plane were Gary and Marcia Fisher, of Monticello, and Phillip Fisher, of Barboursville, West Virginia. Gary and Phillip are brothers. It is believed that Phillip was flying the plane at the time it crashed.
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics says Gary is listed in serious condition, Phillip amd Marcia are both is in fair condition.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane belonged to Philip Fisher. The four-passenger capacity craft took off from an airport near Milton, West Va. at around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and landed in Batavia, Ohio at around 12:15 p.m. F.A.A. reports also said that the plane later left Batavia at 4:05 p.m. for Monticello Regional Airport before it was diverted to Eastern Iowa Regional Airport.
WATCH: Three Injured When Plane Crashes At Eastern Iowa Airport
Cedar Rapids fire fighters and police officers arrived at the crash site just west of Tissel Hollow Road off of Wright Brothers Boulevard at around 8:15 p.m., as well as Linn County Sheriff’s deputies and EMS crews.
Elmegreen says the many members of the Fisher family fly quite often. Gary Fisher was even president of the Monticello Airport's flight club at one point. Fisher also teaches flying lessons to people in the surrounding area.
"I think it's unfortunate. We're all curious to know what exactly did happen. We're hoping they all get fixed up and back in business again," Elmegreen said.
Eastern Iowa Regional Airport spokesperson Pam Hinman said that the plane may have been diverted to the airport for emergency reasons, but that she wasn’t sure if it had any contact with the tower in Cedar Rapids. “We need to confirm a number of things,” Hinman said. “At this moment I know of three people on board and three ambulances.” Hinman said that the airport was shutdown for a short period of time after the crash.
The F.A.A. was expected to be on the scene on Sunday to investigate the crash. A preliminary crash report will be released on Monday.
Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.
Share Knowledge
Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.
Stay focused
Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.
Report Trouble
Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.
Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.
Conversation Guidelines
Be Kind
Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.
Share Knowledge
Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.
Stay focused
Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.
Report Trouble
Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.
read the full guidelines here »
Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.
Most Popular >>