Police News: Crews search for man who fell from plane

Crews search for man who fell from plane

A ground search is under way for a pilot trainee who was ejected from his aircraft, sources said.

The owner/trainee was flying his Zodiac 601 experimental aircraft at about 2,500 feet when the canopy came off Friday, Collegedale Municipal Airport employee Lowell Sterchi said. The pilot's seat belt wasn't fastened, and he was thrown from the craft over the East Brainerd/Apison area.

Sterchi would not give the pilot's nor the instructor's names. He said the instructor landed the plane. He was unhurt but badly shaken.

Collegedale police and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office were searching. The pilot had his own and the instructor's cellphones and those are being pinged in hopes of locating him, Sterchi said.


Man killed while cutting tree

A 68-year-old man was killed Friday while cutting down a relative's tree on Lee Pike, according to a statement from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

"While the victim was cutting the tree, it shifted and started falling to the ground," said Janice Atkinson, public information officer, in the statement. The tree fell on the man.

The man's name is being withheld pending notification of family members.

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