Plane crash lands at Felts Field; pilot taken to hospital

A pilot was taken to the hospital this morning after his single-engine plane crash landed on its belly short of the runway at Felts Field in northeast Spokane. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the 71-year-old pilot, the only person on board, was stabilized in the aircraft before being taken out. His condition was not immediately available. The plane is a Lancair high-performance, experimental aircraft. An eyewitness said he saw the crash scene while driving along Upriver Drive across the Spokane River shortly before 10 a.m. Witness Randy Walker said the plane came to rest on its belly at the western end of the runway. Law enforcement and firefighters responded to the scene along with airport officials. The plane apparently skidded a short distance in the grass in front of the runway before coming to rest at the start of the pavement. Other details on the incident were not given.