Randolph Township in Rising Sun in Ohio County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pilotless Plane

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 29, 2023

1. Pilotless Plane Marker

Inscription. An Aeronca L16 airplane, owned by the Rising Sun Civil Air Patrol, took off with no pilot in January 1959. After cranking the propeller, the plane took flight on its own. It traveled more than 100 miles and crashed near Chillicothe, OH. The event received national media coverage.

Erected by Rising Sun Municipal Utilities (sponsor).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1959.

Location. 38° 56.754′ N, 84° 51.154′ W. Marker is in Rising Sun, Indiana, in Ohio County. It is in Randolph Township. It can be reached from South Front Street south of 2nd Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the sidewalk along the riverfront,. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 S Front St, Rising Sun IN 47040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rising Sun Sesquicentennial (here, next to this marker); Rising Sun Ohio County Consolidated High School (a few steps from this marker); Ohio County Elementary Middle School (a few steps from this marker); 1974 Tornados (within shouting distance of this marker); Rising Sun Tornado

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Riverboat Gaming Referendum (within shouting distance of this marker); Rising Sun Airport (within shouting distance of this marker); Sharing the Wealth (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rising Sun.

Regarding Pilotless Plane. According to news reports, the pilot told authorities he had just landed the plane, filled up the gas tank and was outside “cranking up” the engine to taxi to a hangar when the plane took off without him. Two Ohio Air National Guard jets were sent to intercept and follow the plane, trying unsuccessfully to knock it down. Finally, the single-engine plane ran out of gas, glided down and crashed in a field about 300 yards from a farmhouse. No one was injured in the incident, which drew news coverage from as far away as Hawaii. The pilot said he might have forgotten to disengage the throttle before cranking up the engine.

Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Historical Marker

The markers lay flat in the sidewalk.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 329 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.