ASHLAND, Ore. —A plane has crashed near the Ashland Airport. The crash happened just before 5 p.m.
The flames were quickly extinguished. Firefighters say there were two people on board when it crashed. They were a flight instructor and a student pilot who was flying. We’re told they both refused medical treatment.
One witness tells us the crash happened on the south end of the airport, with the plane ending up nose down in Neil Creek. Ashland resident, Kermit Compeau says he lives just 400 meters from the wreck.
“I saw the tail of a plane in the flames and I walked outside and looked and sure enough it looked like the plane had veered west of the runway on landing, I’m guessing, and pitched into the ditch in the creek,” said Compeau.
Compeau says he saw the tail of the plane burn for a little bit, then explode.
Ashland Fire and Rescue said its biggest concern is what may have entered the creek from the crash.
“The plane being in the creek causes some concerns about environmental contamination it’s not a large plane but of course, there is still gas and other fluids that could be leaking into Neil Creek. There is no way we can contain it when a plane is on fire and actually in the water,” said Chris Chambers, Division Chief with Ashland Fire and Rescue.
Chambers said the position of the plane made it difficult to stop any fuel from entering the creek. It’s unknown how much fuel got in the water.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating this crash and the proper authorities have been notified about the contamination of the creek.
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