Plane Crashes in Neighborhood

Pilot radioed he was in trouble minutes after takeoff.

A single engine plane crashed shortly after taking off from Danbury Airport on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Ridgefield Fire Department, the pilot issued a distress call about 3 minutes after departing from the airport at 12:35 p.m., and said he was experiencing engine trouble.

"The aircraft actually clipped the tops of several trees in this neighborhood and then struck this very large pine tree," said Fire Chief Heather Burford.

The plane flipped over and landed across from Kevin McCarthy's house. McCarthy heard the crash and ran outside to see what had happened.

McCarthy said he saw the pilot's arm moving and he and another neighbor slowly grabbed the pilot out through the window.

"He crawled and we kind of dragged him out of the plane," said McCarthy.

The pilot, a man in his 50's, was taken to Danbury Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The FAA is investigating the crash.

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