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Crop dusting pilot makes emergency landing near Little Cedar
by David Namanny, Press-News Editor
When Roger Krause's 1985 600HP Air Tractor crop dusting plane started sputtering and losing power over grain fields near Little Cedar last Wednesday morning, he didn't panic.
The 62-year old pilot was on his second week of spraying local fields for corn fungus and soybeans aphids when he made the calm, cool decision it was time to make an impromtu emergency landing in the big yellow ag plane.
"I felt a slight vibration in the engine when I was done spraying, then it started backfiring. It got worse and worse," recounted Krause. "I immediately started to try to gain some altitude, that way, if all power is lost, it buys you time and gives you more landing options."
As Krause looked down from hundreds of feet in the air, he had to make the choice on whether to land in one of two alfalfa fields. "I decided not to try to make it to the Osage Airport and put her down in a safe field. Landing in corn or soybeans would've been a mess," said Krause, who was spraying at the time for Riceville Farmers Feed and Grain Company.
"When something like that happens, you don't get scared, you get mission-oriented," explained Krause when asked about the experience. "You just concentrate on the mission, to get down safely without hurting the plane or the crops."
When Krause finally landed, it was a bit rough, but all was okay with plane, pilot and crops. "I was just completing the field, so at least I wasn't carrying any more chemicals. Therefore, there was no chemical spill or any other problems."
After landing, Krause had a decision to make, fix the plane in the field, or tow it into the airport in Osage. He chose the latter. "It would've been tough to take off in the field, and I didn't want to risk any damage," explained Krause, who also owns the plane.
So, the next step was to contact the Mitchell County Sheriff's Department in Osage to ask for traffic control assistance while he and local crop duster and pilot Mark Retterath, towed the plane back to the airport via gravel road. Even though the plane was only about 5 miles out, the whole process took about two hours.
"I really want to thank Sheriff Curt Younker, he was great help to me," said Krause. "He's an amazing man, who I understand was also a hero a few years ago when a small plane went down in Osage.
"He told me that I definitely did the right thing and was happy to provide assistance. It is better than the alternative," he said.
Krause, who is one of several pilots spraying in the area over the past few weeks is actually from Texas, and came to the Midwest with his plane because of a shortage of crop dusters and ag pilots in general.
"There's not too many around anymore, so when Mark Retterath called me, I decided to come out of retirement for the season," explained Krause, who has extensive experience flying.
"I used to run the airport in New Ulm, Minnesota in the 1970s and 80s and have 3,000 to 4,000 hours of ag flying time on record," said the white-haired pilot, who is also a certified ag plane mechanic.
"My wife Lois says it's about time I officially retire," he concluded with a smile.
Several local co-ops and agri-businesses were involved in the crop spraying effort this summer, which was organized and coordinated by Retterath Ag Force of Osage. They included Johnson Chemicals, AgVantage FS, Osage Co-op and Riceville Farmers Elevator.
The base of operations was the Osage Municipal Airport. Pilots were from many areas of the country, including Colorado and Louisiana. One pilot was also from Parkersburg. The spraying continued last week.
"I usually fly," said Retterath. "But I wound up selling my plane last year. I hope to acquire one to start up again next year."
Retterath, also a liscenced pilot, said business has been good for crop dusting in recent years. "There's not enough planes in Iowa to cover all the acres," he commented. "So I definitely will be getting another plane."
According to Mark Retterath, who has been a crop duster pilot for many years here in Mitchell County, his business has grown in the past few years due to technology and advancements in chemicals.
"We provide another tool for the farmers to use to maximize their crop yields. A few years ago it was discovered by applying fungicide to certain corn and soybean hybrids, it could greatly increase the yields. In recent years there has also been an increase in soybean aphids," explained Retterath.
According to a recent study by Purdue University, with this year's soybean prices, there is a $17 per acre loss when applying insecticides with a ground rig in 30" rows, and a $54 per acre loss in drilled beans. This makes aerial application a much more logical choice.
This time of year, Iowa's airports become very busy with spray planes. Several work out of Charles City airport. Marshalltown has 12 planes operating at times, and the operator at Belle Plaine has 16 spray planes working out of there this year.
"We have a private pilot here in Osage who opposes having us work out of the airport here. He doesn't realize the benefits they offer the agriculture community, or that these ag planes generate far more tax revenue to support the airports than his homebuilt airplane does," Retterath said.
Story created Aug 19, 2008 - 10:12:30 CDT.
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