By Beth Alston

AMERICUS — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, along with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, a plane crash that occurred around 10:45 a.m. Thursday in a rural eastern area of the county, on Neil Hodges Road, very near Hodges Hobbies.

Sumter County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy, Col. Eric Bryant, said upon arrival, first responders found a single-engine, one-seater, “handcrafted,” plane that had crashed, and the pilot of trapped inside. Bryant said the pilot had scratches on his face but was conscious. He was airlifted to the Macon Trauma Center. His identity has not been released yet.

Sumter County Fire & Rescue Chief John Ekaitis, whose department also responded, said the plane went down in a field. He also said the pilot was conscious and alert but trapped. Firefighters freed the pilot from the wreckage in about 10 minutes with extrication equipment, Ekaitis said. He said the extent of the pilot’s injuries is not known but he was airlifted.

Bryant said the FAA would be on site later Thursday.