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Small airplane crashes at Ottawa County fairgrounds

Posted at 6:24 PM, Sep 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-03 20:45:28-04

HOLLAND, Mich. — A man was seriously injured when an Ultralight aircraft he was flying crashed at the Ottawa County fairgrounds Saturday.

The crash happened around 6 p.m. Saturday, just south of the Park Township airport.

The operator, identified as 60-year-old Michael Kerr of Delton, appeared to have ejected from the plane before it hit the ground, according to authorities on scene.

Lt. Andy Slagh with the Park Township Fire Department said the man had just taken off and was headed to Wayland, Mich. when the plane clipped a power line due to engine failure.

“We’re not sure if it was a fuel issue or what, but he corrected, hit the power lines and fell approximately 20 feet from the aircraft,” Slagh said.

The man was conscious and alert when he was taken from scene by ambulance. Police would not detail the extent of his injuries.

Calvin Lyons said he was in the area when the plane crashed.

“Strange, and what if the fair was going on,” Lyons said. “A lot of people could have been hurt.”