Pilot survives plane crash in Union County

One person was hospitalized after a plane crash late Friday night near the Union/Webster county line.

Union County emergency officials reported that they received an iPhone crash signal just before midnight.

The sheriff’s office said emergency crews searched the area but didn't find anything near where the ping came in. They said a drone couldn't be sent up to help with the search because of the weather.

The search was suspended until daylight. When they resumed, crews spotted a lot of debris up in a tree, and then found the single-engine plane less than a quarter mile away from Airline road.

Officials said the crash site was quite a distance from where the cellphone ping indicated.

First responders found the pilot, who was reportedly coherent and talking.

The pilot was flown by a medical helicopter to the hospital. He was the only person on the plane. His condition is currently unknown.

All plane crashes must be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.




(Photo: Union County Sheriff's Department)