Samantha Hayes, 27, had been cutting grass beside the tarmac at Broken Bow Municipal Airport (Picture: Facebook/Google)
A mum-of-three was killed after being clipped by the wing of a small plane while riding a lawnmower by an airport runway.
Samantha Hayes, 27, was cutting grass near the tarmac at Broken Bow Municipal Airport, around 185 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, on Friday.
At the same time, pilot James Baxter was preparing to land his single-engine Bonanza A36 aircraft.
He told investigators he saw Ms Hayes once he had touched down before trying to pull up again and fly over her.
But he could not avoid a collision and she was hit by the wing, according to the Oklahoman Highway Patrol.
Ms Hayes, who worked for the city of Broken Bow’s parks department, died at the scene after suffering serious head injuries.
Spokeswoman Sarah Stewart said: ‘We’re investigating whether any charges could be filed against the pilot.
‘Did the pilot do anything wrong or was this just unavoidable?’
Samantha Hayes was struck by a plane while mowing the lawn in Oklahoma last week (Picture: Facebook)
In tributes on Facebook, she was remembered as a ‘wonderful’ and hardworking mum (Picture: Facebook)
She said other questions about the episode remained under investigation, including whether Ms Hayes was wearing reflective clothing and if she saw the plane.
In tributes on Facebook, she was remembered as a ‘wonderful’ and hardworking mum to her three children.
Friend Darlene Tadleigh wrote: ‘Samantha Hayes was a wonderful great mom to her 3 babies! She was a single mom who worked hard to give them a safe and loving home! These babies knew they were loved everyday all day!’
‘Them babies will know how much their momma loved them. We never know when these things are gonna happen but they can and for her it did.
‘God knew [h]is plan for her and it’s hard for us to process because she was still needed here but his ways are higher than our ways even when it’s hard to understand.’
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Carley Hayes said: ‘You was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, I’ve never heard you say a cuss word or talk down on anyone. You was so full of life and had a whole life ahead of you with your precious babies.
‘You’ve got a whole family that’s gonna make sure them babies are good I promise.
‘I am so mad and upset I just don’t understand at all. You was literally my best friend and I’m so thankful for all of the memories we have I just feel like they wasn’t enough.’
Ms Stewart also said that the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating any potential regulatory violations regarding the pilot and the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Broken Bow city manager, who is listed as the airport manager, did not immediately return messages for comment.
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