2 injured in crash of small plane in Isanti County

Associated Press

Last update: September 3, 2009 - 11:44 PM

A small plane crashed Thursday night in Isanti County, and two males on board were flown to a Minneapolis hospital with serious injuries.

The Isanti County Sheriff's Office said the plane crashed about 7:30 p.m. near 253rd Avenue and Nebula Street, which is northwest of Stacy.

The plane went down in a hay field near a pine grove, said Bruce Hildebrandt of Allina Medical Transportation. The injured were flown by medical helicopter to Hennepin County Medical Center, he said.

Area residents Harlan Bellin and Tim Mattsson identified the pilot as Al Tacheny, 49, who has a landing strip and a couple of planes on a nearby farm. Bellin described Tacheny as "someone who likes to fly," and who repairs and builds planes in his spare time.

Tacheny was listed in critical condition Thursday night.

Mattsson said a neighbor called him at work about the crash in Mattsson's horse pasture. Mattsson said he was told that Tacheny appeared to be having engine trouble.

MARY LYNN SMITH AND VINCE TUSS