Small Plane Crashes In Palm Springs, Pilot Seriously Injured

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A small plane crashed Friday afternoon at Palm Springs International Airport, critically injuring the female pilot.

Firefighters were sent to the airport's main runway about 2:10 p.m., said Palm Springs Fire Department Capt. Nathan Gunkel. They found the plane crashed nose-first into the pavement.

The aircraft's sole occupant was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs suffering from injuries described as major, Gunkel said.

Her name and information about her trip were not provided.

An airport official said the woman was taking off when something went wrong. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

According to the FAA registry, the plane is a 1977 fixed wing single-engine Cessna registered to New Mexico resident Sierra Emilia Wojenka.

As a result of the crash investigation and cleanup, the airport's main runway was expected to be closed through late Friday evening, according to Mitch Sanford, who works in airport operations.

The airport's smaller runaway, and its taxiways, were quickly opened back up, Sanford said.

—City News Service contributed to this report.