Plane Crashes In El Cajon; Pilot Injured But Expected To Survive

EL CAJON, CA — A pilot of a small plane was seriously injured but expected to survive after the single-engine aircraft crashed Thursday morning in eastern San Diego County.

A man flying a Cessna 195 attempted an emergency landing around 10:35 a.m. on Interstate 8 near Greenfield Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The plane crashed onto Greenfield Avenue, directly under the I-8 overpass, said Heartland Fire and Rescue spokesperson Andy McKellar.

"The pilot managed to get out of the aircraft on his own," McKellar told Patch.

The 65-year-old pilot suffered major injuries in the crash but was expected to survive, CHP spokesperson Travis Garrow said. He was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego.

The plane struck an SUV that was traveling eastbound on Greenfield Drive under I-8, Garrow said. The driver of the Hyundai Santa Fe, a 57-year-old female from Alpine, was not injured.

Both directions of Greenfield Drive under Interstate 8 remained closed while authorities continued their investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were responding to the scene.

At this time, alcohol and drugs were not considered a factor in the crash, Garrow said.