iflyarascal
04-21-2007, 01:47 PM
Below is a copy of a media report.. The aircraft was a PPC.
A rural Mountain Home pilot escaped with minor injuries after his ultralight aircraft crashed while taking off from a field Friday night near Cotter.
Michael James Sandoval, 44, crashed into the top of trees during takeoff from a field at a friend's home north of Cotter, according to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery. The crash, at about 7:30 p.m., was about 6.5 miles north of Cotter off Denton Ferry Road, the sheriff reported.
"He and the ultralight were hung up in the top of the tree, about 20 feet from the ground," the sheriff said. "He was able to lower himself to the ground."
Due to rugged terrain, rescuers from the Cotter Fire Department used four-wheelers to get to Sandoval and the crash site.
"He suffered very minor injuries," Montgomery said of the pilot. Sandoval was not hospitalized.
Although the sheriff's department helicopter was dispatched to help locate the plane, Cotter rescuers were able to find Sandoval and his 2002 Buckeye Breeze ultralight about 200 yards off the roadway.
Montgomery said no one else was on board during the crash.
The sheriff's department has notified the Federal Aviation Administration which is expected to take over investigation of the crash.
Montgomery said Friday night he was not sure why the aircraft crashed. "He was on takeoff and just didn't clear the trees, the best I can tell."
Posting:
A bunch of our neighbors were outside when it all happened. The 2 guys landed in the field across the street from us, walked down the road to someone's house, came back, and took off again. They weren't high enough to clear the trees and crashed. One guy took off and the other stayed and talked to the rescue people.
A rural Mountain Home pilot escaped with minor injuries after his ultralight aircraft crashed while taking off from a field Friday night near Cotter.
Michael James Sandoval, 44, crashed into the top of trees during takeoff from a field at a friend's home north of Cotter, according to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery. The crash, at about 7:30 p.m., was about 6.5 miles north of Cotter off Denton Ferry Road, the sheriff reported.
"He and the ultralight were hung up in the top of the tree, about 20 feet from the ground," the sheriff said. "He was able to lower himself to the ground."
Due to rugged terrain, rescuers from the Cotter Fire Department used four-wheelers to get to Sandoval and the crash site.
"He suffered very minor injuries," Montgomery said of the pilot. Sandoval was not hospitalized.
Although the sheriff's department helicopter was dispatched to help locate the plane, Cotter rescuers were able to find Sandoval and his 2002 Buckeye Breeze ultralight about 200 yards off the roadway.
Montgomery said no one else was on board during the crash.
The sheriff's department has notified the Federal Aviation Administration which is expected to take over investigation of the crash.
Montgomery said Friday night he was not sure why the aircraft crashed. "He was on takeoff and just didn't clear the trees, the best I can tell."
Posting:
A bunch of our neighbors were outside when it all happened. The 2 guys landed in the field across the street from us, walked down the road to someone's house, came back, and took off again. They weren't high enough to clear the trees and crashed. One guy took off and the other stayed and talked to the rescue people.