More details have been released on the weekend crash of a single-engine plane in White County. The plane crashed near a private airstrip east of Cleveland on Sunday. A preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration says the crash occurred during takeoff.
According to the FAA Aircraft Registry, the single-engine 1956 Piper PA-22-150 aircraft is registered to Charles Grubbs of Sautee-Nacoochee. Officials have not said who was operating or riding in the plane at the time of the crash. They also have not commented on a possible cause. A preliminary report by the FAA states the “Aircraft departed and crashed under unknown circumstances.”
White County Public Safety Director David Murhpy tells Now Habersham the crash was reported around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 27. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found the aircraft hanging just above the ground in some trees. The female passenger was still inside the aircraft. The pilot had already freed himself from the wreckage. After stabilizing the aircraft, firefighters removed the passenger from the plane and transported her by UTV to a waiting ambulance.
EMS transported both occupants to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, says Murphy.
WRWH News identifies the private airstrip near where the crash occurred as Mountain Air Park. The grass airstrip is home to light sport, vintage, aerobatic, experimental, and general aviation aircraft located on Airport Road near Cleveland.
Dean Dyer of wrwh.com contributed to this report
