ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. -- A 45-year-old man from the Hastings area died when his plane crashed in Allegan County Monday afternoon, according to the Michigan State Police.
The pilot has been identified as Craig Ewing. According to his Facebook page, he is a certified flight instructor and CEO at Silver Lining Aviation. He recently attended the 10th anniversary of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
It happened in Casco Township near 109th Avenue and 68th Street. That's between South Haven and Saugatuck.
Isaac Fleming said he was outside when he heard a revving noise in the sky. He said he saw the plane's wing falling, but he didn't see the fuselage.
"I heard a big bang, and then I see a wing come out of the clouds," Fleming recalled.
He described, "[The wing] flitted down just like a maple seed and landed right over here just in the field."
"I was shaking... I was scared," Fleming said.
Isaac's father Dan said, "So we called 911, and we went with the police officer up there and found it."
A Michigan State Police helicopter found the rest of the wreckage. Lieutenant Patrick Boyd said one of the wings and the rest of the aircraft landed 500 yards apart.
"The [plane] is described as a sport craft. It's a 2-seater fuselage-type aircraft," Boyd said.
The pilot's body was found with the aircraft.
"[The pilot] was flying from Lansing, Illinois, and it appears that he may have been headed towards Hastings, Michigan."
Boyd said the Flemings' statements were crucial in finding the crash site.
Dan Fleming said, "The adrenaline was running a little bit knowing that somebody needed help somewhere."
The Federal Aviation Administration and the state police are investigating what may have led to the crash.
