Howell Mayor Helps Pull Pilot From Burning Plane That Went Off Runway

HOWELL (WWJ) -- A pilot escaped after his small plane went off a runway and crashed, catching fire.

It happened late Monday morning at the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport near M-59 and Grand River Ave. in Howell. Livingston County Undersheriff Jeff Warder said the pilot was the only one on board at the time.

"We will be doing a full investigation on the incident, but right now obviously we're just dealing with the fire and getting that under control," Warder said. "And then once we do that, an investigation will be completed."

The mayor of Howell, Nick Proctor, happened to be driving nearby when the private jet crashed, igniting into flames. P

"As I glanced just immediately to my right, I noticed a very big flash of metal rolling across Tooley Road and a big explosion -- fireball -- and black smoke," Proctor said. "I noticed a fuselage traveling toward M-59."

Proctor said he and two other drivers stopped their vehicles and rushed to help the pilot.

"We went to the the other side of the fuselage and attempted with some difficulty opening the fuselage door, it did come open and we helped the pilot from the fuselage," Proctor told WWJ Newsradio 950.

The pilot was treated for minor injuries.

People who work near the airport tell WWJ there was freezing rain off-and-on, but it's too early to say if that played a role in the accident.

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