This story was updated on April 12.
Mangled metal sat near Riggin Road and the Cardinal Greenway Monday as local police responded to a plane crash around 10:30 a.m. where three people were injured.
Airport manager Tim Baty said the single-engine plane heading to Muncie from the Bloomington airport missed its scheduled approach to a runway, circled two-and-a-half times, then crashed more than half a mile from the Delaware County Regional Airport.
Report_CEN24LA144_194014_4_12_2024 2_28_52 PM by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd
The crash caused a fire, which was the source of the two pedestrian's injuries.
The pilot — 65-year-old Craig Richards of Bloomington, and the only person on the plane — was entrapped in the wreckage. He was sent to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and later moved to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. As of April 12, he is still in the hospital but in stable condition.
Lambert Deckers and Cindy Ruman were walking their neighbor’s dog on the trail, according to the sheriff’s report.
Ruman said she heard the plane as it circled around. When she saw it flying toward her, she said it was flying low but thought it would clear the trees. She said the plane crashed through the trees and there was a large fire that lasted a few seconds. She said her leg got burned.
Deckers said he heard the plane, and when they saw the plane coming toward them they turned around and started walking the other way. When the plane hit, he wasn't able to get away fast enough and was burned as well.
Both were taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for initial treatment. The dog was taken to Boyce Animal Clinic for treatment.
Baty said the plane did not land directly on the Cardinal Greenway. He also said there was never any mayday call from the plane.
The incident remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Baty said the Delaware County Regional Airport hasn’t had a “serious injury crash” in at least 20 years.
Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host. Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu. Contact the Ball State Daily News with comments at editor@bsudailynews.com or on X @bsudailynews.
