Crop Duster Crashes in Cass Co.
Published: Friday, June 25, 2021
The pilot of a crop-dusting plane was injured after crashing into a wooded area early Sunday afternoon in Cass County (Mich.).
According to Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke, the crash happened at 1:37 p.m. in the 27000 block of Indigan Lane. The location is just east of Pine Lake.
The pilot, 68-year-old Ralph E. Lutes of Shipshewana, was transported to Elkhart and treated for unknown injuries.
Lutes is the president of Lutes Flying Service. A company spokesperson said Tuesday morning that Lutes was out of the hospital and was recovering at home. The spokesperson said he "really sore" but doing well.
The plane was crop dusting a nearby potato field with fungicide when it crashed into a wooded area.
The accident remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Agencies assisting Cass County Sheriff's office, Michigan State Police, Edwardsburg Fire Department, Edwardsburg-Ontawa Twp. Police Department and SMCAS Ambulance.
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