Passenger In Sonoma Small Plane Crash in Serious Condition
SONOMA (BCN) -- A passenger in a small plane that crashed in Sonoma on Saturday afternoon is recovering at the John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
Mark Johnson, 68, of Santa Rosa, was in stable but serious condition Monday afternoon, hospital spokesman Ben Drew said.
Johnson and the pilot, 66-year-old Paul Landsdorf of Santa Rosa, were injured when the single-engine Qualt light sport aircraft crashed nose-first near Eighth Street East in Sonoma around 1:15 p.m.
Landsdorf was treated and released from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after suffering moderate injuries and lacerations, sheriff's Lt. Glenn Lawrence said.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office found the plane in a grassy area approximately 30 feet wide that runs the length of a 200-foot warehouse, Lawrence said.
The plane had just taken off from Sonoma Skypark Airport and was between warehouse buildings along 21877 Schellville Road, he said.
Witnesses said the engine sounded like it was operating on low power, and the plane crashed almost immediately after takeoff, Lawrence said.
The plane cleared Eighth Street East and crashed in the industrial park west of the road, Lawrence said.
The Schell Vista Fire Department also responded to the crash, which was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
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