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Pilot only slightly hurt in South Kitsap plane crash

A South Kitsap pilot was only slightly injured on Tuesday afternoon when his plane crashed into a pasture shortly after takeoff. - Photo courtesy of KING
Photo courtesy of KING
A South Kitsap pilot was only slightly injured on Tuesday afternoon when his plane crashed into a pasture shortly after takeoff.

June 24, 2010 · Updated 11:02 AM 

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A small plane crashed shortly after taking off from a private airfield near Port Orchard on Tuesday evening.

The 47-year-old pilot departed from a private airstrip in South Kitsap at approximately 6 p.m. when he realized the plane was having mechanical difficulties.

Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a location of the 8600 block of Olalla Valley Road around 6:45 p.m. with reports of the crash.

South Kitsap Fire and Rescue treated the pilot, who reports say, only sustained a hand injury.

According County Deputy Scott Wilson, the pilot realized he was experiencing problems, found a pasture but during the process of trying to navigate the landing, clipped some trees with his wing, causing the plane to spin around out of control.

“He is very lucky,” said Wilson. “But this is also indicative of good airmanship, to be able to land the plane and only walk away with a hand injury.”

The plane, a de Havilland Chipmunk, is a two-seat, single-engined plane that was primarily used for training purposes by Canadian military.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office has reported the incident to the FAA.

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