Man Killed after Ryan PT-22 Hits Mower

Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 09:44 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A Ryan ST-3KR aircraft collided with a lawn mower on a grass runway at Frazier Lake Airpark in Hollister, California, killing the mower operator.
The incident resulted in the death of 75-year-old Douglas Ralph Jackson, who was mowing the runway, and injuries to the plane's co-pilot (head trauma) and pilot (minor injuries).
Authorities stated the pilot did not see the man on the riding lawn mower, and initial investigations suggest no mechanical failure or weather contributed to the crash.
The accident, involving a WWII-era taildragger, occurred on Thursday morning and is currently under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.

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A landing Ryan ST-3KR collided with a lawn mower Thursday morning, killing a 75-year-old man who was mowing the grass runway at Frazier Lake Airpark in Hollister, California.

The WWII taildragger, traveling from Monte Sereno, California, had already touched down when it struck the lawn mower on the landing strip. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash, but neither mechanical failure, nor weather appears to have contributed to the accident.