A twin-engine prisoner transport aircraft carrying one prisoner, a pilot and four law enforcement personnel called in an engine failure around 9 a.m. Jan. 18 on its way from Youngstown to Michigan, forcing the aircraft to crash-land at the Geauga County Airport, said Middlefield Village Police Chief Joe Tucholski.
A twin-engine prisoner transport aircraft carrying one prisoner, a pilot and four law enforcement personnel called in an engine failure around 9 a.m. Jan. 18 on its way from Youngstown to Detroit, forcing the aircraft to crash-land at the Geauga County Airport, said Middlefield Village Police Chief Joe Tucholski.
After the plane began to have engine trouble, the pilot attempted to land it at the airport, but the landing exceeded the length of the runway and “subsequently caused moderate damage to the aircraft,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Ray Santiago in a statement. Specifically, the fuselage and landing gear were impacted, according to News 5 Cleveland.
No one was injured when the aircraft made an emergency landing at Geauga County Airport, Tucholski said.
“The pilot landed with a tailwind and slid off the end of the runway,” the chief said. “There was significant damage to the aircraft, but nobody was hurt.”
Middlefield police and fire personnel were first on the scene.
“They had everyone off the plane when we got there,” he said, adding the officers were taken to a secure location at an Amish residence while medical personnel checked them out.
The prisoner was secured in the police vehicle, Tucholski said.
Ric Blamer, airport manager, said he first heard of the incident on his way to work from an individual at the airport at about 9 a.m.
“He heard the sirens and saw the flashers. I was about five minutes out in Burton,” Blamer said, recalling what he saw when he arrived at the site as people climbed out of the craft.
“The airplane had departed the runway and came to rest in a neighbor’s field,” Blamer said. “I did get to chat briefly with most of the passengers and pilot.”
The Piper Navajo twin-engine plane was full of fuel and Blamer credited the pilot for the landing.
“The pilot did an excellent job of protecting life and property,” he said. “There was no damage to the runway. He missed all the lights.”
Middlefield Fire Department was quick to arrive at the scene, using the Amish neighbor’s driveway, but there was no need to lay down foam. Due to the manner of the landing, there was no danger of fire, Blamer said.
The Aviation Safety Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived within three hours of the crash.
“We opened our doors to the FAA for interviews,” he said.
He expects a steady stream of people to arrive at the airport over the next few days, including insurance adjusters, which is why the plane was left setting just where it stopped, he said.
“We are going to leave it on the site until the investigation is all wrapped up,” Blamer said.
Arrangements were being made with Columbia County to pick up the prisoner and return him to Youngstown, Tucholski said, adding the airport was waiting for the FAA to take the plane away.
Santiago said the crash remains under investigation.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
