A small single-engine plane that departed Danbury Airport early Tuesday morning crashed in a grassy field in Watertown around 8:45 a.m, fire officials said.
The pilot, Daniel Kropas, 54, of Ridgefield, was able to escape the plane with minor injuries after he crash landed his 1972 Cessna 172M in the part-residential, part-industrial Park Road area. Danbury Airport Assistant Administrator Mike Safranek confirmed reports that he was bound for Waterbury Airport. No injuries were suffered on the ground.
The pilot was flying under visual safety rules, or without a specific flight plan. A cause for the crash has yet to be determined. The Federal Aviation Administration, state airport officials, and local fire and police departments are investigating.