Purdue News

September 21, 1998 No injuries, minor damage in Purdue Airport incident WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- There were no injuries and relatively minor damage to an aircraft after an early evening accident Monday (9/21) at the Purdue University Airport. Purdue police Officer Dennis Shepard said a private student-pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings about 5:50 p.m. While on a runway preparing for another take-off, the aircraft veered left 90 degrees and ran into the grass off one runway. It crossed a second runway to another grassy area, hit a ditch and then came to a stop at an angle. The single-engine Cessna 152 remained upright. There was no fire or fuel leakage. Shepard said the pilot, Takeshi Minami, 32, of West Lafayette, who is not a Purdue student, is taking private flying lessons with Lafayette Aviation Inc., which owns the aircraft. He was alone in the aircraft. An initial damage estimate to the plane's propeller and left wing tip was $10,000, Shepard said. Purdue police and fire personnel responded to the accident. The fire department cleared the scene within 15 minutes. Source: Dennis Shepard, (765) 494-8221 Writer: Greg Zawisza, (765) 494-2086;e-mail, greg_zawisza@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page