Plane Makes Emergency Landing, Updated

Update: 2:30 p.m. 4/8/08 News Release: From: Indiana State Police Pilot makes Emergency Landing near Boonville Warrick County – Tuesday morning, April 8, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Indiana State Police, Warrick County Sheriff’s Department and Boonville Fire Department responded to a farm field approximately one-mile southwest of S.R. 61 and S.R. 62 after a local pilot had to make an emergency landing. Preliminary investigation revealed that Reggie Long, 65, and his passenger, Thomas Hauck, 78, both from Newburgh, took off from the Boonville Airport around 11:00 a.m. Shortly after taking off in Long’s 1995 homemade experimental aircraft, he noticed an unusual vibration and didn’t think he could safely return to the airport. Long made an emergency landing in a farm field, located just west of S.R. 61 across from Boonville Jr. High School. During the emergency landing, Long’s aircraft received damage to its landing gear. Long and Hauck were both wearing their seat belts and were not injured. Long has been flying since 1996. The investigation is continuing. Previous Report: Authorities are on the scene of what appears to be the emergency landing of a small plane in Boonville. It happened at the intersection of Highway 61 and 62 about a mile south of Boonville Junior High School. It appears no one was injured in the landing. State Police, fire crews and the Warrick Sheriffs Department are on the scene. Our crew tells us the aircraft appears to be an experimental type and has a damaged front wheel. Fox 7 News has a crew at the scene and will have more details tonight on Fox 7 News at 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.