FELLSMERE, Fla. — A pilot of a small plane was seriously hurt after crashing in rural Indian River County on Thursday, according to local officials.
The Indian River County Sheriff's Office said a single-engine plane went down just east of Interstate 95 at about 10:30 a.m. in an undeveloped area of private land in the city of Fellsmere.
WATCH BELOW: Pilot airlifted to hospital after plane crash
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also said one of their officers responded to the area, located at Corrigan Ranch just off State Road 60, at about 11 a.m.
The FAA said the plane involved was an Aviat Pitts S-2B.
Fellsmere police said in a Facebook post that a man piloting the plane was taken by helicopter to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
"When they got there, they found the pilot," Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said. "The pilot was alive. The pilot was in need of immediate medical care."
The name of the pilot was being withheld until relatives were notified.
Officials said no other people were on board.
Police said the Indian River County Sheriff's Office and Indian River Fire Rescue also responded to the scene.
The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said they have also opened an investigation.
The NTSB said their investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment. As part of this process, investigators said they will gather the following information and records:
- Flight track data
- Recordings of any air traffic control communications
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
- Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience
- 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight
- Witness statements
- Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation
- Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras
Witnesses or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
