Wilton pilot, son receive minor injuries when plane flips on runway at Rangeley

A 1947 single-engine Piper airplane lies on the runway Friday at Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport in Rangeley. Pilot Michael Wells, 60, of Wilton and his son, Reed Wells, 24, of Wilton and Utah, received minor injuries when a crosswind struck and a steering component failed, causing the plan to flip over. Rangeley Fire Rescue photo

RANGELEY — A Wilton pilot and his son received minor injuries Friday afternoon when the airplane they were in flipped onto its roof on the runway at Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport, Fire Rescue Chief Michael Bacon said.

Pilot Michael Wells, 60, of Wilton said Monday that a crosswind and a steering component failed, causing the 1947 Piper to flip over.

He and his son, Reed, 24, of Wilton and Utah, who is a student pilot, received minor cuts and abrasions to their faces. They were evaluated by NorthStar EMS ambulance personnel at the site but did not go to a hospital in an ambulance, Bacon said.

The fixed-wing, single-engine plane is owned by Michael Wells, who said he’s been flying since he was 17.

“We were out for a joy ride,” said Wells, who is vice chairman of the Wilton Board of Selectmen. He said he and his son stopped at the airport to look at the field.

Bacon said the pilot was doing a “touch and go” on the runway when it flipped.

The crash occurred about 2:43 p.m.

Pilot Mike Wells, 60, of Wilton and his son, Reed Wells, 24, of Wilton and Utah, received minor injuries Friday when the plane they were in flipped onto its roof at the Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport in Rangeley, Fire Rescue Chief Michael Bacon said Monday. A crosswind and a steering component malfunction caused the crash, Michael Wells said. Rangeley Fire Rescue photo

Airport Manager Joe Roach, who is Rangeley town manager, was called to the airport. Firefighters asked him to shut down the runway for a short period to clear debris.

The plane was carrying about 15 gallons of fuel, which firefighters were able to contain on the runway and clean up.

Firefighters went through a checklist and had the pilot contact the Federal Aviation Administration. Wells created a report and once that was documented, the Federal Aviation Administration gave Bacon permission to remove the plane from the runway.

Rangeley Public Works foreman Earl Ross used a bucket loader to lift the tail of the lightweight airplane while firefighters and other pilots used ropes to stabilize the plane as it was put right side up.

The airplane was tied down at a plane parking spot at the airport.

The plane had moderate damage, including to the frame and wing, Bacon said.

In July 2021, Reed Wells was a student pilot flying from the airport in Phillips to Norridgewock when the Cessna 150 he and his father were in had engine trouble over Farmington. Reed Wells landed the plane safely in the field behind the Narrow Gauge Cinema.

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