Small plane goes down in central Utah lake

What was first reported as a plane crash in Millard County has turned out to be more of a "hard landing."

Pilot Errol Spaulding and passenger Dale Cresap, both of Idaho, were enroute from Idaho Falls to Lake Havasu when they attempted to land a homemade Rans S-7 aircraft in the lakebed of Sevier.

Spaulding had been told that it was safe to land in the "hard pan" of the old lake bed and was unaware that the lake bed is actually very muddy this time of year.

Upon landing, the wheels of the airplane sunk roughly 8 inches into the mud. It came to a stop with its nose leaned forward, putting its propeller in the mud.

Neither Spaulding nor Cresap was injured, but rescue crews had a difficult time getting to aircraft to get them out. A hover craft was used in the rescue.

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