The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office says the pilot was flying from Calaveras Airport to Franklin when she had to emergency land around 4 p.m.
CALAVERAS COUNTY, Calif. — A 23-year-old woman was only minorly injured after crashing a plane in a remote spot of Calaveras County Thursday, according to officials.
The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office says the woman, who was the pilot and only person in the plane at the time of the crash, was flying from Calaveras Airport to Franklin when she had to emergency land around 4 p.m. It's unclear what prompted the emergency landing.
The Federal Aviation Administration says she was in a single-engine Aeronca Model 7 Champion and crashed near New Hogan Reservoir.
"The pilot of the aircraft did an outstanding job of dealing with an in-flight emergency," said California Highway Patrol's Valley Air Division who assisted due to the remote location of the incident. "Not only did the pilot conduct a number of pre-crash emergency procedures, they continued to fly aircraft and selected a forced landing location that allowed them to reduce ground speed and walk away from a forced landing."
An investigation is ongoing and officials are working to recover the plane, according to the FAA. No other information is known at this time.
Down Aircraft***Down Aircraft***
On Thursday February 22, H-24 was requested to respond to an downed-aircraft in a remote area, west of the Calaveras County Airport. Upon arrival in the area, H-24 was assisted in locating the crash site by an overhead civilian fixed wing aircraft who was in direct contact with the pilot. The crew of H-24 located the down-aircraft and advised Calaveras County SAR of the aircraft's location. The crew of H-24 conducted an offsite landing near the crash site and began hiking toward the scene. As the crew was approaching the aircraft, the pilot (and sole occupant) emerged from the nearby tree line with only minor injuries. The crew of H-24 contacted the pilot and provided medical treatment. The pilot was subsequently transported back to the Calaveras County Airport where an ambulance was standing by. The pilot was checked by paramedics and declined further treatment.
In this incident, the pilot of the aircraft did an outstanding job of dealing with an in-flight emergency. Not only did the pilot conduct a number of pre-crash emergency
procedures, they continued to fly aircraft and selected a forced landing location that allowed them to reduce ground speed and walk away from a forced landing.
Posted by CHP - Valley Division Air Operations on Friday, February 23, 2024
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