Ultralight crashed into trees after takeoff - DeLeon, Florida

No one was injured Thursday morning when an ultralight airplane crashed into a wooded area in a DeLand. The crash occurred at 7:49 a.m. on August 2nd.

Pilot John Charter said he had to make a quick decision when the aircraft's engine failed as he flew over a local neighborhood.

Charter had been in the air 10-15 minutes after taking off from a field near Whisperwood on the north side of DeLand.

"I was trying to make it back to the field, but then I saw the power lines and I just put it in the trees," Charter said.

Charter seemed to be in good spirits as he waited for the Federal Aviation Administration to arrive to investigate the crash.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office was also on the scene.

Charter said he built the ultralight plane at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He has been flying ultralights for 20 years.

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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: UNK        Make/Model: ULTR      Description: UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT
  Date: 08/02/2012     Time: 1215

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: DE LEON SPRINGS   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES AFTER TAKEOFF. DE LEON SPRINGS, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 08/03/2012