MIDWAY – The pilot of a small, two-seater airplane was injured here late Friday morning after his aircraft crashed near Midway in easternBertieCounty.

Bertie County Sheriff John Holley reported that the plane nosedived into an open field just south of theUS17/NC 45 intersection. Holley said the pilot, whose name was not released, was trapped inside the aircraft and was extricated and airlifted from the scene toPittCountyMemorialHospitalinGreenville.

“I do not know the medical condition of pilot, but I feel his injuries are serious,” Holley said.

The Sheriff added that the pilot was fromBertieCountyand operated his aircraft out ofWashingtonCounty.

Holley said that an eyewitness to the accident noticed the plane was in trouble prior to it nose diving into the ground. Upon impact the plane flipped upside down.

“The Midway-Merry Hill firemen and theWindsorfiremen did a good job getting the pilot out of the plane as quickly and safely as possible,” Holley said.

The Sheriff added that the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) had been contacted to investigate the cause of the crash.