UPDATE: Pilot OK Following Small Plane Crash In Beverly

BEVERLY, MA—A student pilot is lucky to be alive after his small plane crash in Beverly Thursday evening.

According to officials, the pilot's Piper PA-28 ran off the end of Runway 27 and collided with trees at Beverly Airport around 4:20 p.m.

The pilot was the only person aboard the plane.

Members of Beverly Police and Fire, Danvers Police and Fire, Wenham Fire, Middleton Fire and Massachusetts State Police all responded to the scene on Burley Street in Danvers. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation also responded to the scene, and the Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating as well.

According to airport officials, a pilot, an adult male, was evaluated by EMS on the scene and declined transportation to an area hospital. He is a student at the Beverly Flight Center, a flight school which operates out of the airport. No one else was inside the plane at the time of the landing, they said.

The plane sustained significant damage in the crash, and was leaking fuel when first responders arrived, officials said. The plane did not catch fire, however.

As a student pilot works to achieve their pilot’s license, it is a standard practice for the student to perform solo flights as they become more proficient in order to hone their flight skills.

“We’re very thankful for the quick and efficient response of our local police and fire departments today,” Bouillon said. “They did an incredible job assisting the student pilot. We’d also like to thank our pilots and businesses at the airport for their patience and cooperation through this incident.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the FAA.

Beverly Regional Airport temporarily closed Runway 09 following the crash until approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday.