Plane Crashes At Truckee Airport; Pilot Hospitalized

TRUCKEE (CBS13) –- A small plane crashed while trying to take off from Truckee-Tahoe Airport around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane, a twin-engine Piper Aztec, burned after crashing and the front end of the plane was demolished. The pilot, who was the only person on board, crawled out on his own and was transported by air ambulance to a Reno hospital with unknown injuries. He was reportedly conscious when taken to the hospital.

The plane crashed on airport grounds, and CalFire firefighters responded to put out the flames.

A witness told CBS13's Ben Sosenko he heard the plane's engines sputtering before it went down.

The aircraft is registered to Brian J. Mettler of Bakersfield, although it was not clear if he was the pilot in today's crash.

The Piper Aztec was first introduced in 1958. This particular plane received air-worthiness status in 1976, according to FAA records. The plane is equipped with two 250hp Lycoming O-540-A1D engines. There were 4,811 models built.

Today's crash follows the tragedy at Reno-Stead Airport on Friday during the Reno Air Races when a plane plummeted straight down to the turf near the grandstands, killing pilot Jimmy Leeward and 10 spectators.

Check back with CBSSacramento.com for more on this developing story.