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CHANDLER, Ind. — May 10, 2026 — An 88-year-old pastor who spent more than four decades serving a Warrick County congregation died after a plane struck the vehicle he was riding in near Boonville.
Leon Hatchett, the longtime leader of Wayside Chapel Church, was hurt in the crash on Baker Road. According to Boonville Police, the plane was taking off westbound from a runway when it hit the car. The impact forced the aircraft’s landing gear off, but investigators have not yet released further details about the condition of the plane or the car.
Associate Pastor Jacob Conner said the news sent shockwaves through the church family. Hatchett was not just a pastor but a full-time presence in the life of Wayside Chapel, and Conner said the loss felt deeply personal.
“We were stunned like anybody else was. We were stunned and we were heartbroken. Just losing a faithful, full-time 88-year-old man of God, you know, was a hard thing to just come to grips with,” Conner said.
For more than 40 years, Hatchett had been tied to the church and to the broader Warrick County community. What set him apart, according to Conner, was the way he connected with people beyond the pews. Before entering ministry, Hatchett owned a bar, a bake shop and a car dealership. Those ventures kept him visible in everyday life, making him a familiar face in the area.
“He was regularly in the community seeing people and getting to have a day-to-day with them,” Conner said.
Even in his later years, Hatchett remained active. Conner described him as someone who did not slow down when it came to helping the church grow. One example stood out: at age 63, Hatchett ran a marathon from Interstate 69 to the church, raising $10,000 for Wayside Chapel.
“He’s a man of love. He’s a man of faith and he’s a man of the community,” Conner said.
The pastor’s devotion went far beyond fundraising and Sunday services. Conner recalled how Hatchett made himself available in ways that were rare for a church leader. He answered the phone, offered more guidance than people asked for and spent unhurried time mentoring younger leaders.
“He’s a man that answers the phone. He’s a man that will tell you more than you need, which is a great thing. And he’s a man of love most all. And importantly, he would sit and disciple me and cheer me on. And he has a love for this place like no other,” Conner said.
That level of investment left a mark on those who worked alongside him. Conner said Hatchett’s influence had shaped the way the congregation cares for one another, and the church is now trying to carry that spirit forward even as it grieves.
Church members at Wayside Chapel plan to gather this Sunday as usual. Leaders expect the service to be more than a routine meeting; it will give the congregation a chance to mourn together and remember the man who helped build it into a spiritual anchor for the area.
Hatchett’s family is also leaning on faith during this difficult time. According to Conner, they are asking for space and peace while they process what happened.
“They do want peace and there will be a healing process, but they’re trusting in God,” Conner said.
The collision itself has raised questions about the relationship between the small airport’s runway and the nearby roadway. Baker Road sits close to the flight path, and the latest sequence of events shows how quickly a normal takeoff can turn dangerous when a plane and a vehicle cross paths.
Aviation safety experts and local investigators often look closely at runway orientation, visibility and driver awareness in cases like this. Because the landing gear separated during the crash, a detailed inspection of the aircraft will be a central part of understanding exactly how the collision happened. However, Boonville Police have not provided a timeline for when additional findings may be released.
For now, the focus remains on remembering a pastor whose life was interwoven with the community he served. Hatchett’s business career made him known to many residents, and his ministry gave that familiarity a deeper purpose. Whether he was behind a counter, at a church dinner or on a marathon course, he made it clear that faith was not something confined to Sunday mornings.
Wayside Chapel is preparing to honor that legacy in the days ahead. Congregation leaders are also encouraging members to support Hatchett’s family, who have asked for prayers as they navigate this sudden and heartbreaking loss.
The Way to serve the community, Conner said, is to continue the work Hatchett loved: showing up, staying close to people and pointing them to God.
As the investigation continues, the local church is holding onto a message Hatchett preached for decades — love for God and love for people remain at the heart of everything. For those who knew him, his memory will not fade quickly from the place he called home.
Boonville police have said the crash remains under investigation. More information is expected as officials review the evidence and complete interviews with witnesses.
