No injuries were reported in a small light plane crash Sunday afternoon, July 29^th, at the air strip at Gaston’s Resort along the White River near Lakeview.  The Baxter County 911 Center received the call at approximately 2:30 PM, and Sheriff’s Corporal Edward Elliott was dispatched to the scene.

     According to Elliott’s report, the pilot of a 2008 4 seat Cirrus CSR 22 aircraft with two additional passengers on board was attempting to take off from Gaston’s.  The plane encountered difficulties and veered to the right.  Each wing of the plane struck some trees, and the aircraft then traveled approximately 50 yards further and came to rest in some hedges near cabin no. 71.  The aircraft was registered to RTJ Aircraft, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware.

     The plane was being piloted by 30 year old Jordan Smith of Kansas City, Missouri.  Passengers were 23 year old Matthew Stengel of Springfield, Missouri in the front and 28 year old Casey Stengel in the back.  The plane sustained heavy damage, but again there were no injuries reported.

     The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted, and representatives from that agency will be coming to the location to investigate the crash.  An officer with the Lakeview Police Department assisted at the scene.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff