AN 87-year-old pilot escaped almost entirely unscathed after his plane nose-dived into trees near Gettysburg Regional Airport, Pennsylvania, the U.S., on Saturday.

    The pilot of the one-passenger plane was en route to Clearview Airpark in Westminster to get more fuel before crashing it while attempting a U-turn, say officers.

    He then called emergency services just after 12:30 p.m. from inside the cockpit, according to local reports.

    Before rescuing the pilot, the plane — which was suspended between 15-meter trees — was stabilized with ladders and rigging by an advanced technical rescue team called in from York County.

    The elderly man was then hoisted down to safety in a sling.

    Eric Zaney, chief of Adams Emergency Med Services, said, “The man was in very good spirits after he was rescued. He was conscious and alert.

    “He told us he felt fine and didn’t have any injuries.”

    Cumberland Township Police and Gettysburg Fire Department were also part of the rescue mission.

    After a four-hour-long rescue the pilot — whose name has not yet been released — was taken to Gettysburg Hospital for further examination.

    The man had minor scrapes on his hands and was later released, said Zaney.

    The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but it is likely the plane had suffered a mechanical issue. Zaney revealed that the man had owned the single engine aircraft since the ’70s.

    (SD-Agencies)