Jun 25, 2022

Small plane lands nose first, short of SW Kan. airport runway

Posted Jun 25, 2022 9:00 PM
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GRAY COUNTY—A Wyoming man escaped injury after a small plane crash just before 7:30a.m. Saturday in Gray County, Kansas.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Kit Fox 5 Vixen aircraft piloted by  55-year-old Lester Lane Smothers of Casper Wyoming was attempting a flight from Meade, Kansas to Casper, Wyoming. 

The plane began to have engine trouble due to a fuel issue. The pilot attempted to land at the Montezuma Airport. The aircraft landed nose first 50 yards east of the airport runway.

The KHP indicated Smothers was not injured but went to a local hospital.  The Federal Aviation Association is investigating.