Ronnie D. Thompson dies in fatal Ellsworth County plane crash

Ronnie D. Thompson dies in fatal Ellsworth County plane crash

Fatal Ellsworth County plane crash death of Ronnie D. Thompson – Obituary

Ronnie D. Thompson, a 77-year-old resident of Goddard, Kansas, lost his life on Sunday afternoon after the aircraft he was piloting went down in a rural field in Ellsworth County.

The crash occurred near the intersection of 4th Road and Avenue D at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Witnesses reported seeing the small aircraft descend suddenly without an obvious cause. The plane involved was identified as a 1946 Piper J3C-65, and Thompson was reportedly flying back to Wichita from Lucas, a town located in Russell County.

Matthew Fulkerson, who lives near Wilson in Ellsworth County, said he had just returned from a car show when he heard emergency sirens in the area. Curious and concerned, he drove toward the noise and discovered the crash had occurred in a field on his neighbor’s land.

By the time Fulkerson arrived at the site, emergency personnel had already secured the area with caution tape. Initially fearing the plane might belong to a friend due to its yellow color, he was relieved to learn it wasn’t. He expressed deep sympathy for Thompson’s family, saying, “It’s a terrible thing to witness. My heart goes out to them.”

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.