Small plane strikes power lines, lands on Beaver County road

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — The Federal Aviation administration said a small plane with two people aboard hit a power line and crashed onto a road in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, but there were no serious injuries.

FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said the single-engine, two-seat Diamond DA20 was attempting to land Friday just after noon at Beaver County Airport when it struck a power line and ended up on McClain Road, not far from Blackhawk High School.

The pilot declared a mayday just before the crash, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.

The tail was nearly snapped off and the plane pitched forward with its propeller on the ground.

Ray Blazak said he was working in his garden when the plane nearly hit him before crashing.

“It slammed right into the ground, nose first. By time I got there, the pilot was opening the canopy and I helped him out,” Blazak said. “The girl, his student, was screaming and crying. She was in severe back pain she said, but we got her to move her arms and legs.”

Salac said both people in the plane were taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out; the injuries were not serious.

The aircraft is registered to Curtis Cousins of Shelton, Wash., Peters said. He did not identify the pilot or the passenger.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash.

WPXI