WOODVILLE, Ohio — A Texas pilot suffered serious injuries Thursday afternoon when his single-engine airplane developed mechanical problems and crashed in a field near U.S. 20 and Fostoria Road in Sandusky County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Clifton E. Green, 64, of Fort Worth, Texas, was flying a 1965 Mooney M20C north toward Michigan when the aircraft began experiencing mechanical trouble, the patrol’s Fremont post said in a Friday news release.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:35 p.m. Nov. 12. Green was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital with serious injuries. Investigators said he was wearing his seat belt harness at the time of the crash.
Fuel spilled from the aircraft into the surrounding field, prompting authorities to notify the Environmental Protection Agency. The patrol did not provide details about the amount of fuel released or the extent of any environmental contamination.
The Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office, Sandusky County EMS and fire departments from Woodville, Gibsonburg and Lake Township assisted at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are also assisting with the investigation, according to the patrol. The NTSB is responsible for determining the probable cause of civil aviation accidents.
The patrol has not released further details about the reported mechanical problems. The crash remains under investigation.
