FULTON, MO – Three Arkansas men are hospitalized in Columbia, Missouri after the crash of a small plane.
It happened late Monday afternoon in Fulton, MO, which is north of Jefferson City.
The victims are identified as pilot Ted Berg, 63, and passengers Mike Ford, 72, and Richard “Ricky” Williams, 43, all of Little Rock. All three are reported to be in fair condition.
They were on board a twin-engine Cessna that went down after a failed takeoff, according to authorities.
A post at 7:30 this morning on Ted Berg’s Facebook page stated the following:
Ted is out of surgery and doing well. He did fracture a lumbar vertebrae and it was decompressed during surgery. He has feeling in both legs and feet…that’s a good sign! We’ll learn more when the doc comes in later this morning. Will repost then.
The plane is based in Saline County. Authorities say the plane had stopped in Fulton for fuel.
NBC News affiliate KOMU in Columbia reports that the crash happened at Elton Hensley Memorial Airport around 5:30 p.m.
The victims were pulled out of the wreckage by the Fulton Fire Department.
Police said the pilot told emergency crews the plane did not have enough power to get off the runway during takeoff.
Local officials have been in contact with federal aviation officials and say an investigation is expected to begin today.
Elton Hensley is an unmanned airport. Officials said the runway was still open and the crash had not affected operations.
