Airplane crashes in Camp Verde

An 80-year-old Camp Verde man was airlifted to Flagstaff Medical Center Monday morning after his small aircraft went down in a field around 8:10 a.m., near the Verde River off the end of Middle Verde Road.

Emergency responders, including employees the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office and Camp Verde Fire District, rushed to the scene just after 8 a.m., while a volunteer worked to direct traffic in the sparsely traveled area some distance from the downed craft.

The pilot’s identity was not immediately known.

The aircraft being flown is classified as a “homebuilt” type, brand name “Hornet” ultralight, according to Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. It is registered to the pilot, who sustained lower body injuries and was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center.

He was conscious during initial treatment by CVFD paramedics, according to YCSO. His current condition is unknown. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

A witness told deputies he heard a loud banging noise this morning and went outside to see the plane pass over his house.

The witness was reportedly concerned due to the metallic noise and low altitude of the aircraft.

When he saw the plane head for an open field, he began driving his ATV in the same direction. The witness lost sight of the aircraft until he arrived in the open field and noticed the downed aircraft.

The witness stayed with the pilot until the arrival of medical and law enforcement personnel. Emergency vehicles had to take care to get to the site, as the soil was reportedly extremely soft.

Just after 12:30 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration authorities arrived to take over the investigation. The aircraft has since been removed from the crash site.