CLINTON, Mich — One person was killed and another person was injured after a small plane crashed in southeast Michigan's Washtenaw County on Monday.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a single-engine Piper PA-28 crashed at about 1:10 p.m. near the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport.
Two people — a 46-year-old flight instructor and a 22-year-old University of Michigan student — were on the plane at the time of the crash just north of the Washtenaw-Lenawee county line, according to the Michigan State Police's first district. Neither victim has been identified.
The flight instructor died in the crash and the student was taken to the hospital for treatment for his injuries. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.
Ken Krause has lived in Washtenaw County just south of the crash site for over 25 years and says while he's seen a lot of small planes flying through the rural part of the county, he's never seen a crash like the one that happened Monday.
He said he was outside working on his patio when it happened.
"I looked up and saw this plane nosediving and crashed there," Krause said, pointing across East Michigan Avenue to the crash site.
"It's just a terrible thing, it doesn't happen a lot out here," he added. "I didn't hear any motor or anything like that."
He said he called 911 immediately while other witnesses ran over to check on the people in the plane.
"They said that one guy was in really bad shape, he was the pilot and they looked like schoolteachers," Krause said. "I didn't know whether anyone was alive in that plane or not."
FlightAware reported that the plane took off at 11:32 a.m. Monday from Ann Arbor. Its last reported location was northeast of Clinton near US-12 and Lima Center Road.
While Krause is still processing the crash, he said he was glad he was in the right place at the right time so he could call for help as soon as possible.
"I've been (in the military) and I know what to do, that's why I called 911," Krause said. "As soon as I saw the crash, I called 911."
The FAA is conducting an investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board will arrive Tuesday morning to conduct its own investigation, according to MSP.
MSP said at 5:45 p.m. on Monday that the scene is still active and the public is asked to stay away.
CBS News Detroit contributed to this report.
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