Plane Descends After Icing Over Near Gunnison

GUNNISON, Colo. (CBS4) – A pilot in a single-engine plane was forced to descend near Gunnison on Friday after icing over.

At around 4:20 p.m. the pilot radioed air traffic controllers that he was encountering light icing. Two minutes later the pilot declared a "mayday" and said he had deployed the aircraft's parachute.

The plane descended successfully 21 miles northeast of Gunnison.

The pilot was the only person on board and was not seriously injured while the plane sustained substantial damage.

The pilot was flying from Centennial Airport in Denver to Colorado City Municipal Airport in Colorado City.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident.

Authorities have not released any other information.