Crash closes Gilmer County runway

  • A single engine plane – a Super Decathlon – approached the runway from the south, bounced on a hard landing and veered sharply. The plane flipped upside down on the runway, causing minor injuries to the pilot and passenger. They were treated by Gilmer County EMS and released on scene.
    A single engine plane – a Super Decathlon – approached the runway from the south, bounced on a hard landing and veered sharply. The plane flipped upside down on the runway, causing minor injuries to the pilot and passenger. They were treated by Gilmer County EMS and released on scene.

    No major injuries were reported following a airplane crash at the Gilmer County airport.

    The call about the crash came in at 3 p.m. Oct. 5, said Keith Kucera, Gilmer County Public Safety director.

    The single-engine airplane carrying the pilot and a passenger crashed during landing.

    “They bounced one time and on the second bounce they lost control,” he said.

    Flipping end over end the airplane came to rest on the roof.

    Pilot and passenger were checked out at the scene and released with minor injuries, Kucera said.

    Fire trucks were on scene through the evening as a preventative measure because the airplane was still fueled. 

    As soon as representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration clear the scene a crane would be brought in to remove the airplane, Kucera said.

    Kucera said the runway was closed until at least noon  Oct. 6.

    Names of the pilot and passenger were not being released while the FAA investigated the crash.