Local

Homemade experimental plane crashes near Grove City Airport

GROVE CITY, Pa. — A man piloting an experimental, self-made plane missed a runway while attempting to land at a small airport in Grove City Friday morning.
 
Grove City Regional Airport manager Doug Thomas said a Grove City Airport assistant ran to help pilot Scott Winder almost immediately after he crashed.  Winder was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
 
"He went out in the air, got a couple of passes and was coming back.  He went left of the runway and crashed into a ditch," said Thomas.
 
Channel 11's Amy Marcinkiewicz  has learned that Winder made the plane himself.  The engine was taken out of a Volkswagen. 
 
Winder is the president of the local experimental aircraft association and has 40 years of flying experience. Crews at the airport said he comes several times a week to test out his homemade plane.
 
"He's a really great guy.  We're hoping for a speedy recovery," said Thomas.
 
Officials believe Winder suffered a head injury and some broken bones.