An Escalante man was seriously injured when the ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed shortly after taking off on Friday.

Garfield County Sheriff Eric Houston said the incident happened at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the east end of the Escalante airport.

Responding personnel from Escalante Fire Department were able to extricate the pilot from the wreckage, Houston said.

Houston described the man’s injuries as “severe,” including multiple fractures to his legs and arm.

After being treated and stabilized at the scene, the man was transported via Classic Air Medical helicopter to St. George Regional Hospital, Houston added.

The paraplane, which was powered by a single engine driven propeller, was heavily damaged in the crash and deemed a total loss.

Because small, experimental ai

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