Bloomington businessman Craig Richards has died from April 1 Muncie plane crash injuries
A Bloomington businessman seriously hurt when the small plane he was piloting crashed adjacent to a Muncie walking trail on April 1 has died from his injuries.
Craig Allen Richards, 65, was hospitalized after the fiery crash in critical condition and died at IU Health Hospice House on April 20. He and his son owned and operated the Jersey Mike’s restaurant in Bloomington and one in Muncie.
Richards, the sole occupant of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee, left the Monroe County Airport at 9:37 that Monday morning in route to Muncie Delaware County Airport, according to a preliminary FAA investigation report.
Less than an hour later, while approaching a runway to land, the plane crashed into a wooded area just west of the Muncie airport that’s adjacent to the Cardinal Greenway trail. Two people walking a dog on the path were seriously hurt when the plane crashed and caught fire at 10:27 a.m.
After firefighters extricated Richards from the wreckage, he was taken to a Muncie hospital and then to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition.
The initial FAA report said the plane was descending and on track to land, lined up with the final approach course, before drifting right of the runway. The plane then made a climbing right turn, the report said, making two full right-hand circles while increasing altitude. The plane then “descended, climbed, and then descended a final time” before crashing.
The report said the impact was about six-tenths of a mile southwest of the midpoint of the runway where the pilot intended to land.
It was about 50 degrees and misting rain, with a six-mile visibility and winds at 13 knots when the accident happened, the FAA reported. Richards had a private pilot certificate and instrument rating to fly a single-engine aircraft.
Richards was involved with Pets Alive, a Bloomington-based nonprofit spay, neuter and wellness clinic, where he served on the board of directors and the finance committee.
His obituary said a private funeral service will be held at a later date and asked that donations in Richards’ memory be made to Pets Alive or Hospice House in Bloomington.
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington businessman Craig Richards dies weeks after plane crash
