Whitehouse pilot dies in central Iowa crash

Adam Danhauer

NOT BLADE PHOTO

A single-engine Cessna 150 airplane piloted by Adam Danhauer, 24, of Whitehouse crashed in a corn field in Boone County, Iowa. Mr. Danhauer, who flew for Air America Aerial Ads, was killed.

A twin-seat, single-engine Cessna 150 airplane operated by Genoa-based Air America Aerial Ads crashed in central Iowa, taking the life of a Lucas County man.

The deceased was identified by the Boone County Sheriff's Office as Adam J. Danhauer, 24, of Whitehouse, who was piloting the aircraft and flying alone.

The National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, are investigating the Thursday-morning crash. Neither commented about it Friday.

Jim Miller, owner of Air America Aerial Ads, said he had no comment beyond offering the victim's family his condolences.

"My prayers and thoughts are all with the family," Mr. Miller said.

Adam Danhauer

He declined to say how long Mr. Danhauer had worked for him.

According to the sheriff's office, the crash occurred in a cornfield about 1 1/2 miles north of the Farm Progress Show site in Boone, Iowa.

The show, which ended Thursday, is an annual three-day expo that draws thousands of farmers and hundreds of exhibitors.

A caller to the county's dispatch center reported the crash at 9:22 a.m. The plane had just taken off from nearby Boone Municipal Airport, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office said the plane was towing a large banner that promoted a seed corn company.

Witnesses told authorities the plane appeared to have trouble pulling the advertising banner, the sheriff's office said.

According to the Boone News-Republican, officials used a tractor to plow through the corn to reach the crash site.

No one on the ground was injured, authorities said.

Investigators were not immediately sure if the banner contributed to the accident, Elizabeth Isham Cory, FAA spokesman, said.

Air America Aerial Ads was admonished by the FAA in Atlanta in April after it flew banners taunting golfer Tiger Woods about his sex scandal during the Masters golf tournament.

Air America Aerial Ads, which also operates as Drake Aerial Enterprise, operates from Wood County's Lake Township.

According to its Web site, it has towed banners for the Disney Channel, HBO, Hooters, The Blade, Harley-Davidson, MGM, NBC, Nickelodeon, TBS, FOX, plus a number of other news and entertainment outlets, automotive companies, and beverage companies.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Contact Tom Henry at:

thenry@theblade.com

or 419-724-6079.