Airplane Crash Lands At Warsaw Airport, No Injuries
Posted
Staff Report-
A plane crash landed at Warsaw Municipal Airport Sunday with no injuries reported. At approximately 11:32 a.m. Sunday, a single prop aircraft crash landed at Warsaw Municipal Airport after crosswinds tipped the plane as it attempted to land. The plane, a 1984 Mooney M201, took off Sunday morning from Marblehead, Ohio, with a final destination of Grand Rapids, Mich. The plane had stopped to pick up parts at Port Clinton, Mich., and then stopped at Lapier, Mich., before stopping to refuel in Warsaw. The pilot, 63-year-old Thomas Kowalczk, of Marblehead, Ohio, said that as he descended southbound toward the Warsaw runway, a severe crosswind caught the airplane. The airplane tipped to the side, causing the wing to touch the ground and resulted in the plane bouncing several times as it tried to land. The airplane crossed the runway and the adjoining taxiway before crashing into the airport fuel tank barriers and a fence. The plane slid in between an above-ground gasoline tank and the above-ground controls of underground jet fuel tanks. There was no fire and no fuel was spilled. There was significant damage to the aircraft and to the airport fence. There was minimal damage to the fuel tank barrier. The pilot's son, Brian Kowalczk, 42, of Allendale, Mich., was flying with his father and neither were injured. Sunday’s crash was the second time in less than three weeks that emergency crews had to respond to an incident at the airport. On Jan. 7, Warsaw emergency crews responded to the airport in response to an aircraft with landing gear trouble. The nose gear on the experimental Lancair 235, flown by John Bourdon, New Hampshire, did not deploy. Warsaw Police were assisted Sunday by the Warsaw/Wayne Fire Territory, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the Indiana State Police, and Multi-Township EMS. The Indiana State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration will lead the investigation.
