POSTED: Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 11:21pm
UPDATED: Monday, November 19, 2012 - 10:12am
UPDATE- DPS officials tell KETK the pilot, 60 year-old Debra Birch, has died.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, according to airport workers and DPS.
Birch was a retired teacher who was working on her pilots license. She was a student pilot who was flying solo for only the third time. Her first solo flight was November 7.
Cliff Goff, airport manager at Cherokee County airport, tells KETK Birch's husband, Richard was a pilot. Goff says Richard would always come watch his wife practice flying. Debra was practicing what are called "touch and goes" when the crash happened. Goff tells KETK, Richard Birch witnessed the crash.
Federal Aviation Administration officials are expected to continue the investigation on the crash.
DPS tells KETK they will have a crew out to clean up and repair the building early Monday morning.
The damage to the airplane hanger building is not expected affect any air traffic at the airport.
UPDATE- DPS officials tell KETK 60-year old Debra Birch, the pilot of the plane, is in critical condition.
They say this was her second time flying solo.
Birch was reportedly flying low, when the plane hit the top of a hanger and crashed into a building.
Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the scene.
ORIGINAL- A single-engine plane crashed late Sunday afternoon in Cherokee County.
Cherokee county officials tell KETK the crash happened just before 4:30 at the Cherokee County Airport.
One person has been taken to the hospital at this time, but their condition is still unknown.
The cause of the plane crash is still being investigated at this time.
We will bring you more information as soon as it become available.
