Silver Spring Pilot Rescued In Plane Crash: MD Police

SILVER SPRING, MD — Authorities say a small plane crashed into the woods in Laurel on Tuesday, landing in the trees approximately 50 feet above the ground.

Maryland State Police identified the pilot as 55-year-old Thomas Falk, of Silver Spring, and the passenger as 59-year-old James Palazak, of Columbia. Both men weren't injured in the crash, but were taken to the R Adam Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore as a precaution.

The plane, a Socata Tampico, crashed in the area of Bald Eagle Road and Maryland Route 198, near Tipton Airport. State troopers said they first got a call about the crash around 6:15 p.m.

The two men were still inside when emergency responders arrived. While one man was rescued by ladder, fire crews from Anne Arundel and Howard counties had to rig ropes to lower the second man to the ground.

Investigators on the scene said an engine failure may have caused the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified about the crash and will be handling the investigation.

Patch's Deb Belt contributed to this report.