JACKSON COUNTY, KS — A Texas pilot miraculously escaped serious injury after his crop duster clipped a utility pole, crashed, and burst into flames in Jackson County on Monday afternoon.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the incident occurred just after 12:30 p.m. David Brocklehurst, 49, of Vernon, Texas, was piloting a 1973 Botzko HP11-15 northbound about a half-mile west of the Atchison County line.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, the aircraft struck a communication pole. The plane came down near K-9 Highway, west of Allen Road and roughly two miles east of Whiting.
Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire. In a remarkable turn of events, Brocklehurst was able to self-extricate from the burning wreckage and walk to a nearby farmhouse to seek help.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse confirmed that Brocklehurst did not sustain any serious injuries in the crash.
Emergency crews from Netawaka and Whiting Fire departments rushed to the scene and successfully extinguished the aircraft fire. Personnel from Jackson County EMS and the Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to the incident.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stepping in to review the accident.
