Investigation To Begin After Columbus Man Killed In Plane Crash

Federal investigators were expected to examine on Friday the wreckage from a Miami County plane crash that killed a Columbus man.

Clovis Dawson, 70, died when his single-engine Beechcraft 23 plunged into a cornfield about 3 miles from the Phillipsburg Airport on Wednesday, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.

According to investigators, Dawson had landed in Dayton prior to his crash. It was unclear why he took off again.

Witnesses noticed that the plane was having trouble, Landers reported.

"It sounded like a plane spitting and sputtering and the motor was struggling and it didn't dawn what it was," Miami County resident Marty Diepernik said. "After I heard a few seconds I ran out of the garage and as soon as I ran out I heard it hit."

This is not the first tragedy to strike Dawson's family.

10TV spoke with Dawson in 2002, a year after a man stabbed his wife to death while she was making a home visit for Franklin County Services.

In memory of her, the county created the Nancy Fitzgivens Child Protection Award.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information.