The pilot of a small aircraft was taken to a local hospital after crashing in New Ipswich Tuesday, but was not seriously injured, according to police.

New Ipswich Road Agent Peter Somero was conducting routine duties at the town’s transfer station when he looked up and saw a small airplane circling.

At first, he said he thought it was someone sightseeing, checking out the cleared area of the transfer station. Then, the plane came down.

“I looked up and saw a plane flying really low. At first, I thought they were just checking out what was going on at the transfer station. But it continued to fly low, and I thought, ‘Wow, I think this plane is in trouble. I think it’s trying to land here,” Peter Somero said.

Peter Somero said the plane never got to attempt a landing, though.

“All of a sudden, the thing just dropped into the trees and disappeared,” Peter Somero said. “All of a sudden, it lost lift and just fell out of the sky.”

Peter Somero called 911. He said the plane wasn’t visible behind the trees, but it had sheared off the top of a pine, and he was able to use that to direct police to the crash when they arrived.

According to a press release issued by the New Ipswich Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, crews, including the Police Department, Fire Department and Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service responded to the report of the crash at about 12:52 p.m.

New Ipswich Fire Chief Gary Somero said when emergency crews arrived, they found a two-seat experimental aircraft. The single occupant, the pilot, was awake, aware, had extricated himself from the cockpit and was able to walk out of the woods to a Souhegan Valley Ambulance for evaluation.

Gary Somero said the plane had landed upright, and about 300 to 400 feet into the woods.

“He went into a bunch of birch trees, and thankfully, that kind of caught him,” Gary Somero said.

Gary Somero said there was no fuel spillage as a result of the crash.

The New Ipswich Police Department and the FAA are conducting an investigation into the incident. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the New Ipswich Police Department at 603-878-2771.

The transfer station in New Ipswich is only open on Saturdays. Peter Somero said any change of hours this week, if needed, will be announced on the town’s website and on the electronic sign at the transfer station entrance.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.