2 injured after small plane crash in Paulding County

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - An 18-year-old and 22-year-old were taken to the hospital after a small plane crash in Paulding County on Thursday evening, according to the sheriff's office. 

What we know:

The crash occurred in a wooded area off Hulsey Town Road near Highway 278 West, roughly a quarter-mile into the woods and just east of the Paulding County Airport. 

Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from the occupants inside the downed aircraft around 8:06 p.m., with firefighters and deputies arriving on scene by 8:09 p.m. 

Responders located the single-engine aircraft and extricated both victims, identified as an 18-year-old student pilot and a 22-year-old flight instructor. The sheriff's office said the two men were practicing takeoffs and landings when the crash happened. 

Sheriff Ashley Henson stated that both men were conscious and speaking when rescuers reached them. Initial observations indicate the plane was pointed away from the airport at the time of the impact. Henson initially said the men were in critical condition. On Friday, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said the two were stable at this time, but the extent of their injuries is unknown. 

Henson added that the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration had been notified. 

What they're saying:

Sheriff Ashley Henson commended the rapid response of emergency personnel who navigated the woods to rescue the survivors.

"I think probably the most important thing to talk about right now is the fact that we’ve got two individuals who were in the plane at the time of the crash, and they are both alive," Henson said. "I think it’s most important that we pray for those individuals and their families."

Henson praised the joint effort between the Paulding County Fire Department and sheriff's deputies, noting they brought the victims up the hill to medical teams "extraordinarily fast."

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released the names of the 18-year-old student or the 22-year-old instructor, nor have they confirmed where the flight originated or its intended destination. 

NTSB opens investigation

What's next:

The National Transportation Safety Board says it has opened an investigation into Thursday's crash of a Piper PA-28 that went down in trees about two miles east of Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport in Dallas. 

Investigators will examine the pilot, aircraft and operating environment, including flight track data, air traffic control communications, aircraft maintenance records and the pilot's license, ratings and recent flight experience.

The NTSB is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has surveillance video or other potentially relevant information to contact the agency. 

A preliminary report containing information gathered during the initial investigation is expected within 30 days. The NTSB said determining a probable cause and any contributing factors will take longer, with a final report expected in 12 to 24 months.

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