The pilot was the sole occupant of the single-engine Piper PA-18 that crashed into the ocean near Hampton Beach around noon during a banner tow operation, the FAA said.
Shocking video captured a small plane crash into the ocean just yards from a popular New Hampshire beach that was full of people this weekend, and now the pilot is being called a hero.
No one was hurt when the plane, which had been towing a banner over Hampton Beach, went down about 30 yards from shore on Saturday afternoon, according to Hampton first responders. Video of the crash landing showed the plane flip over on impact with the water, all as beach crowds watched in disbelief.
"It was like something out of a movie," said Adam Bagni, who shared video and photos of the crash that he witnessed while at the beach with his family. "It hit nose first, the tail went up over the cabin and then it fell back down, people were screaming."
The Hampton Fire Department said they started receiving multiple emergency phone calls just after noon reporting a small single engine aircraft had crashed into the water just off shore along the main beach. Responding crews found the plane had landed approximately 30 yards off shore.
Hampton police initially said they responded to the scene for an overturned aircraft in the water and that the pilot of the aircraft had been taken to a local hospital. The Hampton Fire Department said later Saturday that the pilot was assisted out of the water by New Hampshire state lifeguards and evaluated by EMS but was not transported by Hampton Fire.
The pilot was the only person on the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. An FAA investigator responded and cleared the scene, turning the plane back over to the property owner, the fire department said.
The plane, a Piper PA-18-150, is registered locally, according to FAA data. The agency's initial preliminary information on the crash said the crash occurred for unknown reasons, and it was planning to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation. The NTSB hadn't released any information on the crash as of Monday.
Bagni said lifeguards ran out to the crash site and a man was seen swimming away from the wreckage. Lifeguards later pulled the plane from the water and it was seen resting on the sand.
An aviation expert told NBC News the pilot did a remarkable job crashing into the water, knowing the beach was full of people.
Those on the packed beach could only watch as the plane came in for an emergency landing over the ocean.
"It was an absolutely perfect textbook perfect ditching," Bart Bartelsman said.
The plane, hauling an advertising banner, started to experience trouble on Saturday. Those on the beach said it was like a movie. The pilot first ditched the banner and then slowly brought the plane in.
The nose went into the water as lifeguards swam out to help bring the pilot to shore. Remarkably, he was not injured.
"When the engine has a problem or you've got a problem, you got to solve it, and you talk about it, you chair fly it, you come about and it's like Sully in the Hudson River," Bartelsman said.
The plane is based at an airfield in North Hampton. The pilots there are part of a close-knit community. Between takeoffs and landings Monday, everyone was still talking about the young pilot's actions.
"He kept everybody out of harms way which is really important, so, he did a real good job with that," said Nick Albers, who repairs airplanes.
"I mean, he's our hero," Bartelsman said. "He was shook up clearly, but he'll fly again."
The NTSB is continuing to investigate what exactly happened. People say they are eager to hear the results as they continue to buzz about the pilot's actions, navigating away from the crowded Hampton Beach when it mattered most.
