Small plane catches fire after crashing at La Porte airport, SkyEye video shows

LA PORTE, Texas (KTRK) -- A single-engine plane crash at La Porte Municipal Airport sent the pilot to the hospital Monday morning, according to the city's fire department.

The crash happened at about 8:50 a.m. at the airport off Spencer Highway.

"The aircraft on approach to the airport experienced some type of mechanical issues and ended up nose-first in the grass area, short of the runway," La Porte Fire Department's assistant chief David Gifford said.

The pilot was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital. No one else was injured.

Due to the crash, there was an opening where firefighters were able to pull the pilot out from, Gifford said.

When SkyEye arrived at the scene, firefighters were seen putting out a fire in the front of the aircraft.

Video shows the aircraft, which appears to be a 1998 Maule, severely damaged.

The Texas Department of Public Safety will be heading an investigation, and officials with Federal Aviation Administration were en route to the scene.

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