Pilot Escapes Cortland County Crash that Destroyed Plane, Deputies Say

A pilot practicing taking off and landing a plane in Cortland County escaped a crash Tuesday that destroyed his plane, the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office said.

The pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash around 5:45 p.m. at Cortland County Airport, deputies said.

A single-engine plane with one man aboard had been practicing taking off and landing at the airport for an hour before crashing the plane, deputies said.

Deputies are not yet releasing the pilot’s name.

The pilot told deputies the crash happened when he was taking off and lost control of the plane, according to deputies. He told them the plane took off, hit a snowbank and overturned onto its roof.

The pilot got out of the plane and was taken in a private vehicle to a nearby hospital, deputies said.

He suffered a cut to his head and it does not appear to be life-threatening, according to deputies.

The FAA is helping the Sheriff’s Office investigate, deputies said.

The plane, a 1966 Cherokee, appears to be a total loss.

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