GLENDALE, Ariz., March 18 (UPI) -- The pilot of a small airplane that crashed in Arizona likely spent nearly eight hours trapped inside his upside down aircraft, authorities say.
Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration said nearly eight hours after the pilot informed a control tower in Glendale, Ariz., his aircraft was going down, the injured individual was found inside his overturned aircraft Wednesday, the Arizona Republic said.
The injuries suffered by the pilot, whose identity was not released, were described as serious.
Gregor said the pilot informed the Glendale Airport air traffic control tower Wednesday morning his aircraft had experienced power failure and was set to go down nearly 25 miles outside the city.
A search by the Civil Air Patrol eventually found the single-engine, experimental aircraft and rescued the trapped pilot, the Republic said.
KPHO-TV, Phoenix, said the aircraft landed on the Gila River Indian Community reservation. The aircraft is registered to Phoenix resident Charles Blanchette, records show.
