ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — An investigation is underway to find out what caused a small plane to crash in Elizabeth Township on Friday evening.
Officials told Channel 11 the plane was taking off from a runway less than half of a mile from where it crashed. The plane was reportedly doing a touch and go maneuver when it lost altitude and went down.
The plane was headed to the Finleyville Airport in northern Washington County at the time of the crash.
The crash was reported in a wooded area along Skillet Hill Road, off of Route 136 just before 7 p.m.
Elizabeth Township Police Chief Kenneth Honick told Channel 11 that area residents helped first responders find the aircraft.
“We entered the wood line and found the plane that was crashed,” Honick said. “It’s a small Cessna. It had a single occupant. The occupant was conscious and alert at the time.”
The pilot was taken by life flight to Allegheny General Hospital for life-threatening injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration Reconstruction Team has been called to investigate the crash.
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