Weather forces plane to land in a wheat field
By Terry Murry on Friday, November 12th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HELIX – A small private plane made a precautionary landing in a wheat field in Helix at around 4:50 p.m. Thursday. The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office reports the deputy found a two-person aircraft in the field piloted by Ryan Hone. Hone told the deputy he left Baker City in the morning and was planning on landing in Hermiston, a flight Hone said he makes frequently.
“Hone stated he came over the mountains and realized the weather was too bad to continue,” the deputy reported. “Hone stated he has made precautionary landings before and made the decision to land somewhere safe instead of risking the weather into Hermiston.”
The pilot and his passenger declined medics. The deputy stated he saw no signs of impairment on either individual and there was nothing in the plane that would indicate otherwise.
The property owner was contacted and approved the plane to stay on his property as long as necessary. The pilot and passenger got a ride into Helix, where they said they would stay with a friend until weather improved.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Traffic Safety board have cleared the aircraft for future flight.
