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Man injured after float plane crash in Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A man was injured Tuesday afternoon after a plane crash in the Georgetown area.

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The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash happened near the 100 block of Eagles Nest Lane. The sea plane attempted a water landing on a lake on private property when the plane "tripped" and submerged.

The pilot, 79-year-old Jim Goolsby, was able to swim back to the shore and was taken to the hospital with a minor injury, FHP said. He was the only person in the plane.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office the pilot is a man in his 70s with a possible head injury.

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A man who said he is a relative of the injured pilot reached out to Action News Jax's Paige Kelton on social media. That relative said the pilot is a retired United pilot with 25,000 flight hours. The relative said the float plan was recently purchased and "flipped over" while landing.

FHP said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified of the crash.

Goolsby’s family expected him to stay at the hospital at least through Tuesday night.

Action News Jax spoke with Goolsby’s friends, who say he’s a professional in the air.

“Whatever went wrong, certainly Jim Goolsby did not have anything to do [with it],” said Priscilla Dechaine.  “[It] must’ve been some kind of malfunction.”

Goolsby’s friends just want him back home, and back in the air.

“I wish that he’s well, and his family is OK,” said Joane Partkin.  “The planes come and go all the time and nothing happens.  It’s just an unfortunate [situation].”

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CHOPPER VIDEO: Sky Action News Jax video of the float plane submerged in the lake

LIVE CHOPPER VIDEO: Plane submerged in pond after crash

LIVE CHOPPER VIDEO: Float plane submerged in Putnam County pond after crash: https://bit.ly/2LWInRg

Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, July 16, 2019