Two Teens Injured In Osage County Plane Crash Continue To Recover

The parents of two Kansas teenagers who survived an airplane crash in Osage County talk about the accident. <br/><br/>Mark Sageser and his son Ryan were killed when the Cessna Skyhawk they were in went

Monday, November 6th 2006, 10:39 am

By: News On 6

The parents of two Kansas teenagers who survived an airplane crash in Osage County talk about the accident.

Mark Sageser and his son Ryan were killed when the Cessna Skyhawk they were in went down northwest of Hominy early Sunday morning. The other two passengers in the plane are in stable condition at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

News on 6 reporter Chris Wright says surviving the plane crash was only the beginning of the ordeal for Wichita teenagers Ryan Biedron and John Rice.

After coming to in the middle of rural Osage County, they faced an equally difficult task, getting help. Ryan Biedron was able to crawl out of the Cessna that crashed into field northwest of Hominy. John Rice remained pinned inside.

It was pitch dark, and the teenagers had no idea where they were. After calling 911 on a cell phone, they remained on the phone with rescue workers for three hours, guiding them to the crash site. Ryanâ€™s father Sam Biedron: "between some incredible teamwork between him and john rice, they were able to talk these guys to their location." Johnâ€™s father Tom Rice: "they did a good job. Iâ€™m so proud of the boys, so proud of them."

With their parents by their side, John and Ryan are now recovering at a Tulsa hospital. John has a shattered tibia and broken jaw, Ryan will need surgery on his thumb. Their fathers say the boys' spirits were lifted on Monday after an outpouring of support from the Wichita community arrived in the form of oversized get well cards. Tom Rice: "it's priceless to him to see that. He just for the longest time read the card, front and back." Ryan and John are also mourning the loss of their friends Ryan Sageser, who was piloting the Cessna, and his father Mark.

The three boys grew up together in Wichita, and ran track and cross country together. Mark was their coach. The trio had just wrapped up cross-country season, and flew into Tulsa on Saturday to see a concert.

Their parents say they had a great time, and their last memories of Ryan and his father are happy ones. Sam Biedron: "they were all excellent students and outstanding young men, and Ryan and John have lost a couple of very good friends."

The NTSB is still investigating the cause of the crash.

Tom Rice hopes to recover his son's cell phone from the scene. On it are pictures of John and Ryan Sageser at Saturday night's concert.