Pilot Who Crashed Plane In Union County Field Dies

A pilot died on Thursday after crashing his plane into a field near the Union County Airport.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a plane crash near the airport around noon.

According to Union County Airport Manager Ed Rusch, the pilot crashed moments after taking off.

“I heard nothing out of order,” Rusche said. “The aircraft sounded like it was running correctly. There was no indication of any malfunction.”

The pilot, who was from Charleston, W. Va., was in the process of recertifying for low-level aerobatics when he crashed, 10TV’s Kevin Landers reported.

Rusch said that the pilot was performing a low-level snap and roll and flew into the ground.

Curt Arnspiger said that he ran to help when he saw the crash.

"The plane was pretty much totaled, and he had some severe facial trauma, bleeding, a broken leg,” Arnspiger said. “The most I could do is try to talk to him and let him know that help is on the way.”

The pilot was flying a single-engine Super Decathlon plane, which was registered to Michael S. Lakin of Charleston, investigators said.

The name of the pilot who died was not immediately released.

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