An experimental Glastar airplane crashed Saturday at the private Alta Sierra airport around 3 p.m. Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, Sierra Nevada Ambulance, CalStar and county sheriff's personnel were at the scene. (Photo by John Hart)

A Grass Valley pilot and his wife were treated and released after their two-seat experimental Glastar plane crashed Saturday, hospital officials said.

The 3 p.m. accident, at Alta Sierra Airpark off Norlene Way southwest of Alta Sierra Estates, caused substantial damage to the plane and is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Association, authorities said.

Gray Bennett, 56, was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital by ambulance and Susan Ellen Bennett, 45, was flown by Calstar helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, sheriff's Sgt. Jones said.

An experimental aircraft is usually built from a kit and does not have to comply with the same FAA standards and regulations as factory-built planes, said Gary Guillat, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association of Grass Valley.

The Bennetts' plane made a couple of touch-and-go landings and takeoffs before the crash, Jones said. This evidently damaged the front landing gear, and on the next landing, the pilot lost control of the plane, he said.

There was no fuel leak, and the runway was closed until the wreckage was cleared, Jones said.

Nevada County Consolidated Fire District responded to the dispatch call.

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