80-year-old pilot hospitalized after Franklin County plane crash

Emergency crews responded to a small plane crash in Franklin County Saturday afternoon.

The aircraft went down near the intersection of Reid Road and Howard Tant Road. Authorities say that an 80-year-old man was piloting the plane at the time.

He was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.

“These don’t happen all the time in Franklin county. It is a community that loves its aviation activities,” Nicholas Thorpe, Franklin County Emergency Management Director said.

He says the nose of the plane hit the ground and spun.

“The airplane is a tow plane for gliders,” Thorpe, said. “It just finished towing a plane into the air when the pilot reported engine troubles.”

According to FAA records the North Carolina Soaring Association owns the plane.

Their website says the club offers free flying lessons to its members operating out of Crooked Creek airport in Zebulon.

This comes less than a week after three people were injured in a plane crash in Cumberland County.

“That’s the big message here is continue to check your equipment and make sure everything’s ready to go when you go out and fly,” Thorpe said.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

This is a developing story.