WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — State police are investigating after a small plane crashed in Williamsburg early Monday night.
The crash happened just before 5:30 p.m. at 213 Lightfoot Road, police say. That's near The Apartments at Kelton Station.
Stunning nearby residents, but remarkably, the pilot walked away from the wreckage. Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom and seeing emergency vehicles swarm the area.
The pilot is not hurt, police added, and he’s been taken to get evaluated. There were no other passengers on the plane.
Pictures of the aftermath show the plane upside down in a grassy area.
It’s unclear what caused the crash, and police say troopers are at the scene investigating.
Scott Richardson of Newport News told WTKR he was one of the first people to help the pilot out of the aircraft.
“It was crazy. I saw a plane come down. I thought he was gonna land in the field over there, but ended up in the woods,” Richardson said.
According to FlightAware, the Cessna aircraft departed from Waltrip Williamsburg Executive Airport at 5:12 p.m. It was airborne for just nine minutes before crashing into a wooded area behind the apartment complex.
Other neighbors were shocked by the scene.
“Most I’ve seen is maybe a car crash around here, but did not expect to see a plane just across from my apartment complex,” said Jacob Dansereau.
Dansereau described seeing a large emergency response, including tow trucks, Virginia State Police, and fire crews, as they worked to reach the downed plane and begin removing it from the woods.
“I saw an ambulance earlier. They’re trying to figure out how to get into the trees and pull the plane out,” he said.
The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a hospital. Richardson noted the pilot appeared to have a cut on his leg.
“I just told the man, ‘You’re lucky to be alive today,'" Richardson said.
Virginia State Police are investigating the cause of the crash. No one on the ground was injured.
Residents say the neighborhood is usually quiet, and they’re relieved the crash wasn’t worse.
