Woman on lawnmower killed by airplane wing in Oklahoma.
BROKEN BOW, Okla.—A tragic incident occurred at Broken Bow Municipal Airport, about 185 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, when a woman riding a lawnmower near the runway was struck and killed by the wing of a small airplane, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP).
The victim, Samantha Hayes, 27, of Idabel, tragically lost her life on Friday, as reported by the OHP.
The pilot of the aircraft, James Baxter, flying a Bonanza A36, informed investigators that he spotted Hayes after landing on the runway around 2:30 p.m. He attempted to pull up and fly over her, but unfortunately, she was struck by the wing, according to the OHP.
“We’re currently investigating whether the pilot could face any charges,” stated OHP spokesperson Sarah Stewart on Monday. “We need to determine if the pilot made any mistakes or if this was an unavoidable tragedy.”
Stewart mentioned that there are still unanswered questions surrounding the incident, such as whether the woman was wearing reflective clothing and if she had noticed the approaching airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting an investigation into any potential regulatory violations by the pilot and the aircraft, but they have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Despite attempts to reach out, the city manager of Broken Bow, who also serves as the airport manager, has not provided any comments at this time.
How can pilots increase their awareness of potential obstacles on the ground near airports?
S=”pub_date”>July 12, 2021
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