Parachute helps, then hinders, in area plane crash

A parachute likely prevented a disabled airplane from slamming to the earth harder than it did Thursday near Chanute. But a gusty south wind created another round of trouble as the parachute dragged the wreckage across U.S. 169.

By

Local News

April 23, 2026 - 6:01 PM

A pilot and passenger were taken to the hospital Thursday after their plane crashed into a tree line near Chanute. Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register

CHANUTE — A pilot and his passenger escaped serious injury Thursday afternoon after their airplane crashed in a field about 2 miles north of Chanute near U.S. 169.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported John Von Fange of South Carolina was flying a 2020 SR 22 Turbo aircraft when the plane lost its engine functions southwest of Chanute.

Von Lange attempted to land the plane at Chanute’s Martin Johnson Airport, but could not line up for a proper approach due to cloud cover.

He instead attempted to land in a field northeast of town.

The airplane went into a…

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