A small plane transporting four individuals from a solar eclipse viewing trip has crashed in Arkansas, according to the local airport manager.
The Temco D-16A aircraft had taken the group to Clarksville Municipal Airport in Arkansas to experience the total eclipse in the state's western region, as reported by the airport manager Jim Looney.
"The plane wasn't local," Looney remarked. "It came here specifically for the eclipse."
He estimated that approximately 15 planes landed at Clarksville airport to observe the impressive celestial event.
"Once it ended, they all started up their engines to leave," he commented. "Most stayed only an hour or two."
Clarksville, with its population of about 10,000, became a popular destination on Monday due to its optimal eclipse viewing location.
"They had cleared the runway's adjacent trees and hadn't even reached the runway's end," he explained.
“They were airborne probably halfway down the runway, and then two-thirds down the runway, they lost an engine and … they went into the trees and into a large, forested area.”
Looney, who is also part of the local fire department, assisted in the rescue of the four occupants, who were all conscious when he reached the scene.
First responders had to extricate them from the plane by popping the canopy off, he said.
Johnson County Sheriff Tom Hughes confirmed to KFSM that four people were injured in the crash but were all in good spirits.
Aircraft Information:
Owner/ Operator: Private
Aircraft: Temco D-16A Twin Navion
Registration: N131N
Serial Number: TTN-65
Engine: Lycoming O-340A1A
First Flew: 1947
Age: 76 Years
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