A small plane crashed in a wooded area of Groveland Friday morning. The pilot was able to walk away from the crash unharmed.

The plane crashed around 8:40 a.m. near Indigo Road and the Royal Highlands subdivision.

According to a new release from the Professional Firefighters of Lake County, residents heard the plane motor sputter out and then crash.

Emergency crews from Lake County Fire Rescue, Lake County Fire Rescue Special Operations Squad, Groveland and Lake EMS responded to the area and searched for over an hour when pilot walked up to rescue personnel.

 “While our firefighters were searching the wooded area for the report of the downed plane for about an hour, the pilot actually ended up walking out to them” reports Lt. Brian Gamble, Vice President of the Professional Firefighters of Lake County. “It is amazing that he was able to walk away from the wreckage.”

Investigators said the pilot, who was the only person on board, dropped a PIN on his iPad before getting out of the crumpled plane and it allowed search crews to locate the crash site.

The pilot refused transport to the hospital.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.