A small airplane crashed Saturday evening, Sept. 6 at the Dona Ana County Jetport in Santa Teresa during take-off, according to federal investigators.
According to preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration, the small Piper aircraft crashed during takeoff “due to unknown circumstances.” The aircraft was headed to Albuquerque, according to the FAA.
The aircraft sustained “substantial” damage, according to the FAA.
The Sunland Park Fire Department, which responded to the incident along with Dona Ana County Fire Rescue, said one man was seriously hurt in the crash.
The FAA, however, described the man’s injuries as minor.
Sunland Park Fire and Dona Ana Fire Rescue responded to an airplane crash at the airport at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
A man in his 40s was transported to a local hospital by ambulance with serious injuries, Sunland Park Fire said.
The airport manager told KTSM at the time of the crash that the plane only had a single pilot on-board and no passengers.
The airplane crash is under investigation by law enforcement, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB said a preliminary report should be available in 30 days.
