Private plane crashes in Sonoma, no injuries

A small private plane crashed while taking off from Sonoma Skypark this morning, running off the eastern end of the runway into a group of bushes, according to a Sheriff’s report. Neither person in the two-person plane was injured during the 11:45 a.m. incident.

The pilot was identified as Leon Scarbrough, 74, of Sonoma resident. He told deputies that he was conducting “touch and go’s” when the plane went off course and off the runway into the grass. He throttled up and tried to achieve lift, but ended up running into the berry bushes.

Scarbrough and his passenger, a 19-year-old Sonoma resident, walked away from the collision unharmed. The plane suffered minor damage.

Sonoma Skypark is located on Eighth Street East.