Small Plane Crashes In Greene Co., Two Men Escape Injury

FRANKLIN TWP. (KDKA) -- Two men were able to walk away unhurt after their small plane crashed in Greene County.

According to the Observer-Reporter,  it happened Sunday morning at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

The 71-year-old pilot, Daniel Dean Smith, and 71-year-old co-pilot, Paul Henry Dawson, were flying the fixed-wing airplane when they had to perform an emergency landing.

"I just started flying, we were taking off and landing in the grass," Smith said. "The engine was running rough so I turned to Paul and said 'what's going on?'"

"We noticed we had lost all oil pressure," said Dawson, the more experienced flier, who took over controls when trouble began.

Dawson thought putting the plane down at the fairgrounds would be smooth, but it didn't go as planned.

The aircraft hit a large tire while landing, causing damage to the landing gear.

"I think we were a little bit in shock, at least I was. He said 'you okay?' I said 'I'm okay,'" Smith said. "He [Dawson] did a great job."

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The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.