Duster Disaster

By: 
Steve Chapman

The Thrush Aircraft crop duster involved in a crash just south of U.S. Highway 60, last Thursday, sits in a wheat field where it landed after striking high line power lines.

The aircraft rests some 50 feet from Lawrence County 1200 where an emergency vehicle with Aurora Rural
Fire Department blocks the road, and a power company utility truck is parked near the downed lines. (Photos by Ryan Squibb)

Crop duster makes crash landing near Aurora after striking power lines; pilot injured, but walks away from accident
 
A Thrush S2R-H80 crop duster plane crashed in a field in Aurora on Thursday, May 12, after it struck power lines near the intersection of Lawrence 1200 and Highway 60.
Pilot Arne Rohme, of Miller was seriously injured in the crash and was reported to have been life flighted to Mercy Hospital in Springfield. However, Aaron Siegrist, chief of the Aurora Rural Fire Protection District, predicted Rohme would recover from his injuries.
“The way I understand, he was expected to make a full recovery,” Siegrist said.
Siegrist also said he was not certain why Rohme flew into the power lines.
“As far as I know, the FAA has not determined the cause yet,” he said.
"The aircraft belongs to Kingsley’s, of Miller. Reached by phone, Kiman Kingsley declined to answer any questions.  
“I really don’t want to talk about it,” he said.
All eastbound traffic on U.S. Highway 60 coming into Aurora was diverted at Elliott Avenue following the incident.
Siegrist said the power lines were repaired about 12 hours after the crash.
“We left scene at about 10:30 that night,” he said.
The incident continues to be reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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