VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A pilot suffered serious injuries after a small, home-built airplane he was flying crashed in a wooded area in Volusia County, deputies said.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 5:20 p.m. near a home in the 1400 block of Maytown Road in Oak Hill.
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The pilot was the only occupant in the plane and was taken to a hospital by Air One for treatment, according to a tweet by the sheriff’s office.
A report of the crash provided Wednesday identified the pilot as Vincent Grasso, 78, of Palm Bay.
Homeowners arrived at the crash site and spotted the plane positioned upside down in a tree, deputies said. The pilot appeared to be unconscious and was still strapped in his seat in the cabin.
Grasso is currently listed in stable condition, according to a news release.
A small home-built airplane crashed into a tree around 5:20 p.m. this evening in a wooded area off 1420 Maytown Road, Oak Hill. The pilot, the only occupant, was taken to the hospital by Air One for treatment of his injuries.
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) January 31, 2023
According to the report, deputies spoke with a woman who said she witnessed the plane take off before it got lower and lower ahead of a boom she heard. The woman said she saw the plane “do three to four loops” before she heard a smacking noise followed by no further engine sound, the report stated.
The aircraft, described as an ultralight, was towed away at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration and transported to the sheriff’s office’s evidence facility, according to the report.
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest updates.
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