Pilot survives plane crash

A pilot is lucky to be alive after his plane crashed in the Ocala National Forest Thursday night.

Fire crews and sheriff's deputies say when they arrived on scene, that the pilot was already out of the plane and talking. But they say this crash could have ended much differently."

Neighbors living near South Highway 314A say they were startled when they heard the news.

Judy Brown said, "We heard on the radio this morning that a plane had gone down right behind our house and we just hope that the pilot is alright."

Marion county sheriff's deputies say 71-year-old Herb Clark Jr. crashed nose first into the trees.

Neighbors say it sounded like his engine was having trouble right before the crash.

Judy Brown said, "We think he may had been trying to land on the air strip that’s right by my property."

Clark junior was rushed to Ocala Regional Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.

Paul bloom said, "It's not often that someone crashes a plane in that type of area and does survive. So he's very fortunate and we're glad the first responders were there right on the scene along with neighbors that were around."

The federal aviation administration is handling the investigation.