Pilot hurt after World War II era plane crashes at Montgomery County airport
World War II era plane crashes at Pennsylvania airport; pilot hospitalized
A pilot was hospitalized after a World War II era plane crashed at an airport in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania late Wednesday night.
LIMERICK TWP., Pa. - A World War II-era plane crashed at Heritage Field Airport in Limerick Township just after Wednesday evening, leaving the pilot hospitalized and prompting a response from fire, police and ambulance services.
Emergency crews said the plane crashed upside down and was leaking fuel, but airport staff were able to remove the pilot before firefighters arrived.
Emergency response and airport closure after crash
What we know:
The plane took off from Pottstown and was headed to Quakertown, according to Limerick Township officials. It crashed at around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Field Airport on the 3300 block of West Ridge Pike.
The plane was only in the air for 9 minutes before coming down unexpectedly, officials said.
Officials say the single-engine plane crashed off the runway and landed upside down, leading to a fuel leak.
"We got reports the pilot was trapped in the plane. On our arrival, they were pulling him out. So there was no extrication needed by the fire department," Limerick Township Fire Chief Ken Shuler said.
The fire department and other emergency crews stayed at the scene to monitor for potential fire hazards and helped with the fuel leak, according to Limerick Township officials.
The pilot was taken to Reading Trauma Center after being found alert and talking at the scene, but no additional update on his condition has been provided by officials.
Investigation into cause and safety measures
The backstory:
Heritage Field Airport, formerly Pottstown Municipal Airport, serves private and recreational aviation, officials said.
The World War II era plane was not due to land until around 7:28 p.m., but the crash occurred at about 7:18 p.m., according to officials.
What's next:
Limerick police are investigating the crash, and officials say the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been contacted but haven't confirmed their involvement yet.
The airport remained closed Wednesday night while crews worked to resolve the fuel leak and remove the plane from the runway.
What we don't know:
Officials have not shared the cause of the crash or released more details about the pilot's injuries beyond saying he was alert and communicating at the scene.
The Source: Information from Limerick Township police and fire officials and interviews conducted by FOX 29 reporters in the field.