An aviation student at Henderson State University was injured and the flight instructor transported to a hospital for observation after an aircraft they were traveling in landed upside down Thursday, according to a university statement.
Henderson State spokesman Tonya Oaks Smith said the university's Maule MXT-7-180A landed on its back on the runway of Arkadelphia's Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field after a "sudden, strong crosswind blew the aircraft off the centerline as it was touching down."
Smith said "rain-softened ground" in the area caused the single-engine plane to roll over and land with its wings touching the ground.
The identity of the student, who was treated for minor injuries at the scene, has not been released.
Officials have also not released the name of the student's instructor, who was taken to Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia and later released.
A meeting will be held Friday morning with flight instructors at Henderson State. University planes are grounded until the conclusion of the meeting.
The Arkadelphia Municipal Airport will remain closed until the aircraft is removed from the scene, Smith said.
The Arkadelphia Police Department responded at the scene after receiving a call about 1 p.m. and said an investigation into the landing has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration.
So thankful that our student pilot and our flight instructor are safe after today's plane accident suffering only minor injuries. #HSU
— Glen Jones (@HendersonPres) March 3, 2016