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• Video: Pilot Receives Minor Injuries In Small Plane Crash

Small Plane Hits Clay County Power Lines

POSTED: 9:51 pm EDT August 1, 2008

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- A pilot who authorities said was waving to his family members while flying at a low altitude crashed into some power lines Friday evening.The crash took place near the 2900 block of Sandridge Road in Green Cove Springs as the pilot was flying over the neighborhood of Glenhaven.The pilot told officers that he was having engine trouble and tried to land the ultralight plane on Sandridge Road when he clipped the power lines.

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"Witnesses did actually see him going into the power lines. The pilot flying the plane was flying over a local neighborhood, waving to family members. His altitude was low, and he ran into the lines," said Russell Benes, of Clay County Fire Rescue.Rescuers had to cut the small plane out of the wires."I was standing out in my front yard and saw this little plane come across. He came flying in. It looked like he was trying to find some place to land. I ran out into the yard and looked up, and he hit the power lines. When he hit the power lines, they started exploding. He got caught up, and then he fell out onto the ground. There were sparks, and the plane caught on fire. He was lying on the ground, so we dragged him across and some other people came out and we got him across the road," said witness Josh Bookstore.According to Clay County Fire Rescue, the pilot was the only person in the plane. Officials said he suffered only minor injuries, possibly a knee injury.The crash briefly knocked out power for some residents nearby. Authorities with Clay Electric said the pilot is lucky to be alive.Bookstore agreed."He lucky to be alive. He could have fallen out of that plane and landed on his head. I guess he landed on his leg and busted his leg. It looked like he burned his arm on the power line somehow, because it was burnt up and his leg was just toast -- mangled, broken. I'm not doctor, but he's going to have to have some kind of work done on his legs," Bookstore said.The pilot's name was not immediately released. It was unclear whether he would face any charges.