An Omaha man was killed when the ultralight he was piloting crashed in western Iowa Sunday.
Fifty-four-year-old Darius Krymuza of Omaha was killed in the accident near the Missouri Valley Airport. A passenger, 52-year-old Herbert Harden of Omaha, was hospitalized in serious condition.
Krymuza had been flying the aircraft earlier without incident.
Harrison County Sheriff Terry Baxter says, "They flew about 30 minutes. They landed the plane. Then Mr. Harden got into the aircraft with Mr. Krymuza when the crash occurred."
Authorities say the aircraft got approximately 50 feet into the air when it banked hard to the left and crashed.
Krymuza was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Harden was taken by helicopter to an Omaha hospital and he remained in serious condition Monday.
Krymuza's friend, Harold Ostler, witnessed the accident. He told Channel 6 News that, "Darius was a great friend and a capable flyer and we're all devastated by his death,"
The sheriff's office will handle the investigation of the crash because the Federal Aviation Administration does not consider ultralights to be airplanes.
Harrison County investigators took pictures and Sheriff Baxter also has statements from several witnesses. Baxter is working with the ultralight manufacturer who should be able to tell him if there were any mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Many ultralights have parachutes and we're told that Krymuza's was equipped with one but they're only good above 300 feet.
