A learner pilot from Indianapolis suffered minor injuries from a Monday night airplane crash northeast of the Delaware County Airport, police said.
Joseph Bruns, 29, was taken to Ball Memorial Hospital with a separated shoulder and might have to have surgery, Delaware County Sgt. David Spence said.
The crash occurred at 5:47 p.m. in a wooded area on the south side of County Road 500-N and half a mile east of Walnut Street, Delaware County Sheriff Deputy Kurt Walthour said.
Bruns, who was flying out of Kokomo, was doing landings at the airport when the private 1976 Cessna airplane lost power.
He made an emergency landing in a field northeast of the airport, and the plane's left wing hit a tree limb and spun to a stop, Spence said.
Ambulances and trucks from the Hamilton Township and Muncie fire departments surrounded the battered white and red plane.
The plane was blocked off by caution tape in the barren corn field Monday night.
The plane's windshield was broken, and wires lay around the plane, Spence said.
"Right now, we are just concerned," Spence said at the site. "They got a fuel leak. It's small, but they got a fuel leak."
Bruns had 48 hours worth of flying time and almost five hours of flying time alone at the time of the accident.
Spence said the student pilot was fortunate to have suffered only minor injuries in the wooded area.
"They were pretty good size trees he got into," Spence said. "He was pretty lucky."
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash at 8 a.m. today, police said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
