Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A 70-year-old New Era man walked away uninjured from an Ultralight aircraft crash Friday morning, July 17, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.
“A New Era man was piloting it, and he had just taken off from the Oceana County airport, and he didn’t have enough elevation to clear some trees,” said Sheriff Mast. “His landing gear touched the trees, which dragged him down. The trees really caught him. The plane suspended about 10 feet off the ground.”
There were no passengers aboard the aircraft.
The aircraft landed in the backyard of a residence at the corner of 88th Avenue and Warren Road. “The homeowner called 911, and the pilot walked back to the airport; got his vehicle; and made contact. He’s been fully cooperative.” The 911 call was made at 8:46 a.m.
The aircraft is a two-seater Upstream-brand Ultralight, said the sheriff.
Arrangements are being made to remove the aircraft from the tree, said Mast.
The crash occurred nearly on the four-year anniversary and in very close proximity to the plane crash that claimed the lives of two Muskegon County men.
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