Wife of pilot lands plane as husband goes unconscious; pilot now dead
STURGEON BAY - An 80-year-old woman was able to successfully land a twin-engine airplane in northeastern Wisconsin after her husband became unconscious at the controls and died.
Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel says the dispatch center was told just after 5 p.m. Monday that a Cessna about 6 miles south of Sturgeon Bay had declared an emergency.
John Collins, 81, was the pilot. He was from Sturgeon Bay.
Collins had suffered a medical emergency and was unconscious. His wife, who was the passenger, was flying the plane.
A certified pilot was able to fly alongside the plane and coach the wife. Just after 6 p.m., her right engine ran out of fuel and lost power.
She was able to land at Door County Cherryland Airport. The wife suffered minor injuries. Her husband was pronounced dead.
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