Experimental plane crash near Haskell sends one person to the hospital

HASKELL, Okla. (AP) _ A Coweta man was injured after his experimental plane crashed in a field near the Haskell Airport, authorities said. <br><br>Sam Davis, whose age wasn't given, was listed in serious

Friday, July 4th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HASKELL, Okla. (AP) _ A Coweta man was injured after his experimental plane crashed in a field near the Haskell Airport, authorities said.

Sam Davis, whose age wasn't given, was listed in serious condition late Thursday at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, a hospital spokeswoman confirmed.

The accident occurred about 7:30 p.m. off Oklahoma 104 in a pasture, officials said.

Nearby residents told Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers they could hear the aircraft's engine running, but knew Davis ``had trouble leaving when he took off,'' Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Charles John said.

The crumpled yellow plane, a RagWing, was constructed entirely of wood.

Nearby resident Troy Danielson, 35, was in the swimming pool with his family when they saw Davis' plane go down.

``He was probably 20 feet off the ground. He lifted up and he dropped back down. He managed to clear a tree and turned,'' Danielson said. That's when the plane crashed.

``I jumped on the four-wheeler and my wife called the law,'' he said.

When Danielson reached Davis he was still sitting in the plane and gas was pouring from a can on him.

Danielson moved Davis out of the plane away from the gasoline, fearing it would catch on fire.

Davis was taken by ambulance to the Haskell Airport where a helicopter flew him to Tulsa, troopers said.