CEDAR CITY — A pilot reportedly sustained minor injuries when his airplane flipped over after landing at Cedar City Regional Airport on Friday.
Cedar City Airport Manager Tyler Galetka said the incident happened at approximately 11:14 a.m. and involved a plane he described as a small, general aviation, single-pilot aircraft.
“The pilot landed here on the runway,” Galetka said, “And for unknown reasons, the aircraft exited the runway to the safety area and flipped over.”
A photo taken by a bystander from a distance through the fence shows responders gathered around an upside-down blue-and-white plane.
“It did land safely,” Galetka said. “But then after it did, it went off the runway. We’re not really sure exactly why, whether it was wind or some other factor.”
The adult male pilot was evaluated at the scene for minor injuries but declined medical transport, Galetka said.
Galetka described the damage to the aircraft as “substantial.”
Those responding to the scene included Iron County Sheriff’s deputies, Cedar City Fire Department personnel, including the crew of the department’s aircraft rescue firefighting truck, and airport operations staff. Additionally, personnel from Sphere One Aviation (the airport’s fixed-based operator) and All Ways Towing assisted with the recovery of the damaged aircraft.
“Recovery operations were a little tricky due to high winds,” Galetka said. “But we were safely able to return the aircraft to its right side.
“The only interference with operations was that we did have to close the main runway down,” Galetka said, noting that some local wildland firefighting operations were temporarily suspended for approximately 30 minutes until the runway was able to be reopened. Additionally, he said SUU Aviation students and other general aviation users were also temporarily grounded.
The airport followed established response protocols for such incidents, Galetka noted.
“Upon notification, we contacted emergency services, we shut down the runway and responded to the scene,” he said. “And then, once we arrived on scene and evaluated and performed the rescue operations that were needed … there were no fires or anything. We then contacted the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) as we normally do as a standard protocol.”
The scene was fully cleared by 1:15 p.m., or two hours after the incident, Galetka added.
“We are grateful to all those who responded,” he said.
This report is based on preliminary statements from aviation officials or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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