Plane Crash Lands In Columbia Cornfield

Columbia Police Officer Bill Lowe, right, checks on the condition of the pilot of an airplane that crash landed Saturday in a Columbia cornfield, while the co-pilot, left, helps her safely get back onto the ground.

The pilot and co-pilot of a Piper airplane avoided injury after they made a crash landing Saturday, at 2 p.m., in a cornfield, just north of Red Roof Liquor and Lottery in Columbia. For a yet unknown reason, the plane lost power and went down about one mile north of Sackman Field, a small airport on Bluff Road catering to single-engine aircraft.

“I was crossing the J.B. Bridge when I noticed a plane flying way too low,” said Robert Kinney of St. Louis.

Kinney quickly drove to Red Roof Liquor and Lottery, got out of his car and made his way through a corn field. He was the first to reach the downed airplane. He was relieved to discover both the pilot and co-pilot were not injured. Columbia police officers, ambulance personnel and firefighters were at the scene moments later, secured the scene and notified the FAA so they could begin their investigation.

“The pilot did a good job keeping the plane up as long as she did,” said the co-pilot.

The Columbia Police Department is not releasing the names of those involved until the FAA completes their investigation.

An airplane that crashed today in Columbia took out a wide path of corn in a field farmed by Ed and Norm Schaefer, right.

Recent Obituary
Marvin Fred Hesterberg, of Florissant, Mo., formerly of Waterloo, died June 20, 2007. He was married to Loretta Hesterberg nee McDonald. Survivors include by his wife; children Lynn (Richard) Werner, Sandy (Neal) Goldford, and Jana (Dan) Swanger; five grandchildren. Visitation is Sunday, June 24, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 12, at O’Sullivan Muckle Mortuary in Chesterfield, Mo. A funeral service will be Monday, June 25, 10 a.m., at the funeral home. He will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo and a gathering will follow at Oddfellows Hall in Waterloo.