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Small plane crash kills man near Walnut Grove MO

January 03, 2011|by Marie Saavedra, KY3 News | msaavedra@ky3.com

WALNUT GROVE, Mo. -- A man from Pennsylvania died Monday night about 7 when a small plane crashed in northwest Greene County in a field near Highway BB at Farm Road 75.  That's about five miles east of Walnut Grove.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the plane as a single-engine Cessna.  Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Bracker said the man was in his 40s and was the only person on board.  Bracker said the patrol was working to notify the man's family before releasing his identity to reporters.  Investigators didn't know if he had ties to Missouri.

Bracker said the plane did not originate from Springfield-Branson National Airport.  No one knew if the pilot was attempting to land or was flying over the area.  The patrol says the plane went into the ground nose first and then flipped forward.  Parts of the plane scattered as far away as 40 feet from the bulk of the wreckage.

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Several homeowners called 911 to say they heard what sounded like a plane in distress and an engine whining and stalling.  They also said they heard a sickening thud shortly afterwards.

Walnut Grove and Willard firefighters responded to the 911 calls with Greene County sheriff's deputies and state troopers.  Late Monday, the Walnut Grove Fire Department was securing the scene for the Federal Aviation Administration investigators who will arrive on Tuesday morning.

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