A small plane has gone down near Park Road in Watertown.
Watertown fire officials say the plane went down in a field behind homes just before 9 a.m. in the 300 block of Park Road, not far from Mattatuck State Forest.
Pilot Daniel Kropas, 54, of Ridgefield, was heading from Danbury to Waterbury Airport in Plymouth when his plane went down – narrowly missing power lines in the area – and hit the ground, landing backward and coming to rest against a group of trees, authorities said.
There are no injuries, according to fire officials. Kropas was transported to the hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.
John Moskaluk, who lives in the area witnessed the crash, said that the pilot appeared distressed as the plane weaved between power lines.
"He went under and over the top of the second one, which is a little bit lower, then under this one here – over, under," Moskaluk said, pointing out the wires to which the plane came dangerously close.
Had Kropas collided with the power lines, the outcome would have been very different.
"It would have been like a razor blade. It would have sliced that plane right up," Moskaluk said. "I don't think he would have pulled those lines down. They're heavy lines and stuff. He would have been a mess. It's a miracle how he landed that plane in the bushes over there."
Officials said it appears Kropas had been trying to land in the field where he crashed, then tried to take off again before the plane went down.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to the scene to address a fuel spill, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, along with Kropas' insurance company.
Watertown police also responded to the crash.
Fire officials said fuel from the plane's tank must be emptied out before the aircraft can be removed from the scene. The plane is still wedged in a tree.
Kropas was not available for comment when NBC Connecticut arrived at his Ridgefield home on Tuesday.
