One injured in Crystal Lake plane crash - update

CRYSTAL VILLAGE - A Lynn Haven minister was injured Friday evening when his light plane crashed near Crystal Lake Airpark in south Washington County. Florida Highway Patrol reports that the Rev. Jim Luther, 66, associate pastor pf Lynn Haven Methodist Church, was flying his private 1946 Luscombe aircraft over Crystal Lake Airpark when it developed engine trouble at about 7:30 p.m. Friday.

A neighbor, Liz Taunton, said she saw the aircraft idling over her house. "I told my son it was fixing to land," Taunton said. "The engine started to go putt-putt-putt."

Taunton said it looked like then aircraft might put down in Crystal Lake insted crashed at Panther Road and Spring Pond Road just north of the airpark. Taunton and her son rendered first aid until Washington County EMS arrived.

Luther was taken to Bay Medical Center with what Taunton described as a broken hip, an injury to the cornea of an eye, lacerations and a concussion. He was reported alert and concious, Taunton said. There was no one else in the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration was on hand Saturday morning to conduct the investigation and the aircraft was removed to the airpark. More information as it becomes available.

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Pastor undergoes successful surgery after plane wreck

By JON MILTIMORE

News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — A 66-year-old Lynn Haven pastor who survived a plane crash this weekend had successful surgery Sunday, according to family members. 

"The surgery went well," said Ginny Luther, wife of Rev. Jim Luther, the congregational care pastor at Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. "Doctors said he will do fine."

Luther suffered injuries to his face, chest, and hip when his cream and red 1946 Luscombe twin-seater airplane crashed in southern Washington County on Friday night. The plane experienced mechanical difficulties shortly before 7:30 p.m., according to Florida Highway Patrol officials, forcing Luther to perform an emergency landing near Crystal Lake Park, where the plane clipped several trees, hit the ground nose first and flipped over. 

Luther, the only person on the plane, was taken to Bay Medical Center in critical condition.

"God's work is so good," Ginny Luther said. "It is amazing he is alive."

Ginny Luther said her husband is still experiencing severe swelling in his face, particularly around his eyes, because of the fractures in his face. But she said the wounds are expected to heal without additional surgery.

"As soon as the swelling in his eyes goes down, they are going to get him up walking," Ginny Luther said.

 Luther has served more than 40 years in the ministry, Ginny Luther said, and doctors indicated her husband would be able to return to his ministry "soon."

"God is not done with him yet," Ginny Luther said.

‘A real miracle’ - Lynn Haven pastor survives plane crash

By S. BRADY CALHOUN and JAY FELSBERG
Florida Freedom Newspapers

GREENHEAD — The friends and family of a local pastor who survived a Friday night plane crash say they see a higher power at work.

“God just flew him in the right space,” said Ginny Luther, wife of the Rev. Jim Luther, who was critically injured when his cream and red 1946 Luscombe twin-seater aircraf crashed near Crystal Lake Airpark in southern Washington County.

Luther was in critical condition at Bay Medical Center. He is expected to go into surgery today for fractures to his face and hip and injuries to his chest area, Ginny Luther said.

The 66-year-old pilot serves as the congregational care pastor at Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. The Luthers live in the Crystal Lake Community, which sits just west of the airpark.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators said the plane experienced a mechanical breakdown at about 7:28 p.m. while in flight.

Luther, who was alone in the plane, was able to guide it around power lines and houses as he headed for a nearby clearing, Ginny Luther said.

The plane clipped several trees on its way down, hit the ground nose first and flipped over. The aircraft landed upside down facing south with the tail portion of the plane partially on Spring Pond Road.

A neighbor, Liz Taunton, said she saw the aircraft idling over her house.

“I told my son it was fixing to land,” Taunton said. “The engine started to go, ‘Putt-putt-putt.’”

Ginny Luther said it looked as if the aircraft might land in Crystal Lake but instead crashed at Panther Road and Spring Pond Road, just north of the airpark. Taunton and her son rendered first aid until Washington County EMS arrived at the crash site. Ginny Luther said she is thankful her husband will not have to undergo brain surgery. “In some ways, this is a real miracle,” she said. Doug Pennington, senior pastor at Lynn Haven United Methodist, agreed. “When you hear ‘plane crash’ you can’t help but think the worst,” he said. Instead, friends and family said they are witnessing answers to their prayers.

“The biggest thing is that we are really in his (God’s) hands,” Pennington said. “Jim is one who trusted God’s picture.”

Jim Luther was born into the family of a Methodist minister in Pontiac, Mich., in 1943, according to the Lynn Haven United Methodist Church Web site. He has a doctorate in theology and has worked as a professor. For 10 years, he was the pastor a church in Northville, Mich. He also served for five years as a senior chaplain at the Washington County Correctional Institute shortly before to starting at Lynn Haven UMC in July of 2004.

He and Ginny have seven children and three grandchildren.

As congregational care pastor, Jim Luther oversees counseling, weddings, preaching and visits families in the hospital. More than 30 people showed up at Bay Medical on Friday night to pray for him, Ginny Luther said.

There were so many that many of them were asked to leave for fear of overcrowding.

“He is well known and well loved,” Pennington said.

Not only is Jim a warm friend and a rock for those in need, but he also is an adventurer who recently returned from an archaeology dig in Israel and previously did ministry work in India, friends said.

When others in their 50s were thinking about retiring to a beach, he started taking flying lessons, family members said.

The 1946 Luscombe is Jim’s third airplane. and he often took his wife 1,000 feet in the air to watch the sunset. Ginny Luther said Jim probably was just taking the plane for a quick spin around the area of the air park Friday evening when the trouble started.

As she waited outside the intensive care unit at Bay Medical, Ginny Luther said she is certain Jim will walk out of the hospital and back into his life.

“God has more work for him to do,” she said.