The National Transportation Safety Board has released new details of a September plane crash near the Le Mars Municipal Airport.
A report from the board, cited by the Daily Sentinel, says pilot Robert Tompkins had just taken off from the airport when a gust of wind lowered the left wing of the single-engine plane and the aircraft’s ailerons, which control some movements, were unresponsive. Tompkins tried to level the plane but it stalled and crashed into a corn field west of the runway.
The 42-year-old Tompkins, of Le Mars, suffered minor injuries in the Sept. 24 crash.
The plane was destroyed. Damage was estimated at $30,000.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Verisk Report Shows Drop in US Reconstruction Costs in 2Q
AAA Forecasts Record Memorial Day Drivers Despite High Gas Prices
OpenAI Floats Idea of Global AI Governance Body With US, China
The Big Dog Is Off the Tech Porch: State Farm as ‘Next Gen Good Neighbor’