Footage posted to Little Bitty Towing's Facebook page shows the plane crash and immediately catch fire.
A woman runs up close to the wreckage before turning and leaving to summon help. She returns with a man who moves a nearby car out of the line of fire.
The pilot is able to climb out of the back of the plane and jump nearly 10 feet to the ground.
"It was just crazy. I was born and raised right here. The airport's been there 50 years. You always had it in back of your mind something like this might happen, and today was the day," the business owner told AL.com. "I'm in the business of accidents but this is a once in a lifetime thing to happen in your own back yard. It's hard to those feelings into words."
Police said the pilot suffered a few minor burns and cuts to his hands.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
