Morehouse pilot survives early morning crash in Dexter

By NOREEN HYSLOP

Managing Editor

A Morehouse man sustained injuries, but walked away from a wooded area south of Dexter after his Cessna 150 crashed within about 75 yards of a residence there.

According to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, John Launius, 60, a pilot from Morehouse, Mo. took off from the Dexter Airport just before 4 a.m. Monday.

At least one resident near the area of the crash heard what she termed as sounding like "a tree falling" shortly after Launius' time of take-off.

Launius was the only person aboard the plane. He made his way from the wreckage and to a nearby residence, but collapsed near the carport of the home. He was found about two hours after the crash, around 6:15 a.m., and Stoddard County EMS responded, transporting him to Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for treatment.

The area where the plane crashed is near Davis Survey, a wooded, residential area just south of Dexter. The wreckage could not be spotted from a nearby roadway, but came to rest on the ground after crashing through the woods. The plane did not catch fire upon impact, and Launius freed himself from the wreckage.

Launius remained in the Missouri Delta Medical Center late Monday. Friends of the family stated that his injuries are not life-threatening, but included a broken collarbone, broken nose and some facial abrasions.

John Launius is a recent retiree, after having worked at the Sikeston Power Plant for about 30 years.

Members of the FAA were expected to arrive in Dexter Monday afternoon to investigate the crash.