A congressional candidate in Arkansas’ first district was injured Friday in a small plane crash at the Sharp County Regional Airport. Jody Shackelford’s campaign spokesperson says the Republican was airlifted from the scene to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
According to Jonesboro television station KAIT, the crash occurred at the airport’s south end near U.S. Highway 62/412. Shackelford tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News he attempted a “go around” after the normal landing became unstable from surprise gusty winds. He made my radio call to announce the go-around and gained a bit of altitude, but his engine failed. Shackelford says he did the emergency landing procedure, and his only good option was to keep the plane level and fly it all the way through the crash. The plane hit a wire fence.
Shackelford says he suffered a broken back. Officials have called the Federal Aviation Administration to help with the investigation into the crash.
Shackelford is taking on incumbent Representative Rick Crawford and State Representative Brandt Smith in the May 24 Republican primary. The first district includes Baxter, Fulton, Izard, Searcy and Stone counties.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI