Minor Injuries Reported in Aircraft Accident on Abel Island

On October 3, 2026, at approximately 5:59 p.m., the Clayton County Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting that an aircraft had crashed into a residence on Abel Island in rural Guttenberg.

Upon arrival, responders determined that a multicolored ultralight aircraft had been attempting to take off from the Abel Island Airport when it lost control. The aircraft struck power lines in the area before crashing onto the roof of a residence.

The pilot and sole occupant, identified as 75-year-old Gary Fisher of Monticello, Iowa, sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Assisting the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Guttenberg Fire Department, Guttenberg Police Department, Guttenberg Ambulance Service, and Alliant Energy.

The crash remains under investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).