Charges considered after air rage incident at Butler Field

An alleged near mid-air collision and resulting on-the-ground altercation could leave a 40-year-old Hutchinson man facing fifth-degree assault charges.

According to Hutchinson police, a 51-year-old Waconia man told them on July 2 that another plane almost struck his Cherokee aircraft while making his landing approach at the city-owned airport south of Hutchinson about 6 p.m. June 29. The man, a regular visitor to the Hutchinson airport, was accompanied by his 22-year-old son.

The second plane, described as a Piper Navajo, allegedly cut in front of the Waconia man’s plane at an altitude of between 500 and 700 feet and landed ahead of him. Once on the ground, the two pilots got into a verbal confrontation that allegedly led to the Hutchinson man running at the Waconia man and “chest bumping” him.

Police interviewed several people, including two Life Link medical helicopter employees, who witnessed the confrontation on the ground. Based on the report and their investigation, police will seek from City Attorney Marc Sebora charges of disorderly conduct and fifth-degree assault against the Hutchinson man.

The Waconia man filed a report with the Federal Aviation Administration, which is said to be investigating the alleged flight incident, too.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)