Update: Robeson Township Police provided additional details Friday morning, stating the plane flipped over onto its roof while attempting to land, with the pilot suffering a minor injury. Police are working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board on the investigation.
Original post: A small passenger plane crashed into a field in Robeson Township on Thursday evening, but the pilot, who was the only occupant, was not injured, according to authorities.
Emergency dispatchers received a report at approximately 5:32 p.m. that a single-engine Maule M-7 aircraft had gone down at a privately owned grass airstrip near the 00 block of Pleasant Grove Road.
Robeson Township Police Officer Justin Schlottman confirmed that the crash occurred as the plane was making its approach.
“And, upon landing, the plane had an accident,” Schlottman said. “We’re still investigating and working with the FAA on getting some more details about what happened, but nobody was hurt. There was no fire.”
The pilot, who resides at the property where the airstrip is located, had departed earlier from Schaefferstown after refueling. While he did not sustain serious injuries, the aircraft suffered “some significant damage,” according to Schlottman.
Authorities have not released further details about what may have caused the crash, and the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to assist in the investigation.
The Robeson Township Police was assisted by the following agencies: Gibraltar Fire Company, Geigertown Fire Company, Birdsboro-Union Fire Department and Tower Direct EMS.
