A Minot man was killed Sunday afternoon in a plane crash at Mercer County Regional Airport near Hazen. The North Dakota State Patrol says the crash happened at about 1:45 p.m.
Witnesses say they saw a 1960 Piper airplane taking off from the airport. A short time later, the aircraft was seen trying to return to the runway with its landing gear back down. Investigators say the plane then lost altitude and hit the ground.
The pilot, a 67-year-old man from Minot, died from his injuries. His name has not been released. The NDHP says he was flying alone.
Mercer County Regional Airport is located east of Hazen along North Dakota Highway 200 and is co-owned and operated by the county & several surrounding communities.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident and is expected to release a preliminary report soon. Their full investigations can take weeks or months.
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