Buffalo Center pilot dies in crop duster crash
Published 2:26 pm Wednesday, July 18, 2012
By Peggy Senzarino, Mason City Globe Gazette
BRITT, Iowa — The pilot of a crop dusting plane registered to a Buffalo Center spraying company died Wednesday from injuries he sustained when his plane crashed into a corn field northeast of Britt Tuesday afternoon.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has identified the pilot as John A. Larson, 38, Buffalo Center.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration web site, the plane is registered to Friesenborg & Larson Custom Spraying LC, 45884 70th Ave. in Buffalo Center.
According to Andy Buffington, the Winnebago-Hancock County emergency management director, the crash occurred in a corn field about 2½ miles northeast of Britt near Lake Avenue and 250th Street.
The plane was a single engine turbo-prop, fixed wing AT-402B aircraft manufactured by Air Tractor Inc.
According to Tony Molinaro, public affairs officer for the FAA, the agency will gather information but since there was a fatality, the investigation will be turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation into the cause of the crash.