Small plane crash in Clay County leaves two injured

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A plane crash in rural Clay County left two people with injuries Wednesday morning.

The Clay County sheriff confirmed that the crash happened just before 11 a.m.

The two people were aboard a single-engine Piper Cherokee aircraft when it crashed at the Roosterville Airport, which does not have a tower.

The two crash victims were taken to Liberty Hospital. The hospital told KCTV5 News that both of them have been upgraded from “serious” to “fair” condition.

The Roosterville Airport is not owned by the city. It’s a private airport, so there was a team effort out there today.

“We have mutual aid and auto aid, which means the closest unit is dispatched to this location. We work in conjunction with Liberty Fire Department and they were able to respond, as well, with our crews,” said Jason Spreitzer with the Kansas City Fire Department.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Kansas City Police Department all responded, as well.

When the crash happened, the aircraft was doing “touch and go” exercises, which is takeoff and landing practice. The plane flew from the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport to the Roosterville Airport.

Upon takeoff, it did not make altitude. It went down through trees and ended up on its back, losing a wing in the process.

“It could be weather conditions, heat, humidity. Those things impact the performance of any type of aircraft, be it a single-engine prop plane like this or a jet,” said Joe McBride, an aviation spokesperson.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Missouri State Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation.

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