Picture Credits: Ashland County Pictures
Ohio, UNITED STATES: A single-engine plane crashed near Polk, a village in Ashland County, Ohio, on the evening of May 5, 2025, resulting in the death of the pilot. Authorities confirmed that the aircraft involved was an Experimental Express 2000 FT, a homebuilt model commonly used by private aviators.
Picture Credits: Ashland County Pictures
Crash Details
The crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. in the 300 block of Township Road 673, just north of U.S. Route 42. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft descending rapidly before impacting a field near a residential area. Emergency responders from multiple departments, including Polk Jackson Perry Fire District, were dispatched to the scene immediately after 911 calls were placed by nearby residents.
Upon arrival, first responders found the aircraft heavily damaged and the pilot deceased at the site. No other passengers were believed to be on board.
Weather and Flight Conditions
Thunderstorms were reported across Northeast Ohio during the time of the crash, though it remains unconfirmed if weather played a direct role in the incident. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation to determine the probable cause. As of now, no flight plan has been publicly disclosed.
FAA and NTSB Response
Picture Credits: Ashland County Pictures
According to preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft was privately owned and operating under visual flight rules (VFR). The NTSB has confirmed it will lead the investigation and is currently conducting debris analysis, radar tracking, and reviewing communication logs.
An NTSB field investigator has been assigned to the crash and is expected to release a preliminary report within 10 days.
Local Reaction
The crash has shocked the tight-knit community of Polk. Residents gathered near the site expressed sorrow for the pilot and praised the rapid response by local emergency teams. Authorities have not yet released the pilot’s identity, pending notification of next of kin.
Ashland County has witnessed a few small aircraft incidents in past years, but this marks the first fatal crash in recent memory involving an experimental aircraft in the area.
