Small Plane Crash Injures 2 Near Hampton, NH Airfield
NORTH HAMPTON, N.H. (CBS) -- A small plane crashed in North Hampton, New Hampshire on Sunday morning after takeoff, injuring both men on board.
The FAA said a Piper PA-28 aircraft crashed into a wooded area about a quarter mile from Hampton Airfield at 9:40 a.m. The densely wooded section of the woods where the plane crashed helped the two on board survive, firefighters said.
"All of a sudden I heard a bang and a rustling in the trees and the ground really shook," says witness and Cedar Road resident Alexia Vouscoukis.
Raw Video Of Wreckage
The pilot, Ronald Gagnon, and passenger were both able to make it out of the plane, officials said. Gagnon, who suffered facial injuries, was taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital. As of Monday morning, he was listed in fair condition.
The passenger was airlifted to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Fire officials say he has burns over 10 percent of his upper body.
North Hampton Fire Lt. Jason Lajoie said the trees appeared to break the fall of the plane. The occupants were "very lucky" to escape more serious injuries, he said.
"Given the severity of the crash. . . I was anticipating that they were both going to be trapped," he said.