Experimental Plane Crash Kills 3 in Linn County

The plane crashed in a harvested corn field about 1/4 mile from the nearest residence. No one on the ground was injured.

Photos of plane crash site: Linn County Sheriff

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Deputies in Linn County and the FAA are investigating the crash of a small single engine airplane that claimed the lives of the three men aboard Friday when the plane crashed at 10:20 AM in a field.

Sheriff Tim Mueller says the Linn County Sheriff's Office dispatch center received several reports of a plane that went down at the end of Steckley Road, approximately 5 miles northeast of Albany.

Mueller says three men working nearby said heard the engine sputtering and saw the plane spinning out of control at about 3,000 feet.

"The plane then disappeared behind a stand of trees that prevented them from seeing it impact the ground. They immediately went to the crash sight to assist, but found all three occupants dead. A deputy arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed the men died on impact."

The plane crashed in a harvested corn field about 1/4 mile from the nearest residence. No one on the ground was injured.

The victims have been identified as 49-year old Louis Lamb, of Sublimity, 36-year old Steven Teeney of Silverton, and 32-year old Riley Bunn of Stayton.

Mr. Lamb was the pilot of the plane, a Lanceair single engine, low wing that is classified as an experimental aircraft. They had left the Salem Airport shortly before the crash en route to Klamath Falls on their way to a hunting convention in Utah.

Two investigators from the FAA responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.

The bodies were transported by AAsum-Dufour funeral home in Albany pending further arrangements.