Angel Flight makes emergency landing at airport
Staff writer
Marion emergency equipment and personnel swarmed Marion Municipal Airport Thursday morning after receiving a report of a plane heading in for an emergency landing.
Marion Fire Department, police department, rescue squad, and EMS all responded, but their services were not needed.
"I was real pleased with the quick response from everyone and was just happy we didn't have to put any of those units to use," said Marion police officer Philip Hartsfield.
Gary Baker of Topeka was flying a single-engine Cessna to Wichita on an Angel Flight when his engine began sputtering.
The plane was approximately 14 miles southeast of Marion near the Cedar Point area when the problems began, Hartsfield said. The incident occurred at approximately 8 a.m.
The plane was accompanied by a second aircraft, both of which were on an Angel Flight. The second plane followed along behind Baker's disabled plane.
"Marion was identified as the closest airport they could reach with a tail wind and hopefully land safely," Hartsfield said.
When the planes arrived at the airport one went right and headed on to Wichita, while the other circled around to land, said Marion Police Chief Michel Soyez.
"It landed safely," Soyez said. "There was no smoke or anything."
Hartsfield said the plane's engine was still operating when it landed, although it was not running at full power.
Hartsfield said the pilot was fine, although a little shaken, and refused treatment. Hartsfield and chief Soyez transported Baker into Marion so he could make arrangements for a certified mechanic to look at his aircraft and for another plane to pick him up.
"He landed safely and did a lot of things right," Hartsfield said.
Local emergency units responded to a page from Marion County dispatch notifying that a plane having engine problems was heading to the local airport for an emergency landing. Local authorities had been notified of the situation by the FAA (Federal Aeronautics Administration), Soyez said.
Angel Flight is a non-profit organization providing air transportation in private aircraft using volunteer pilots. They pick up children or adults free-of-charge so they may access life-saving medical care.
During Thursday's flight, the two planes were heading to Wichita to pick up a mother and epileptic child and fly them to Liberal.
Chief Soyez said he had dealt with an airplane crash while working in a previous position and he was relieved Thursday's situation had a positive outcome. With winds gusting in the 30 to 40 mph range, an aircraft fire — combined with the volatile nature of the fuel — may have been difficult to control, he said.
"I'm just glad we didn't have to put our people in harm's way," he said.
