Small plane crashes in ocean off North Carolina coast; pilot rescued

OAK ISLAND, N.C. -- A pilot was rescued Saturday after making an emergency landing in the ocean near a pier in Oak Island, North Carolina.

The Town's Beach Safety Unit, who were already in the area responding to a water rescue nearby, were able to quickly assist pilot Mark Finkelstein, who was the only one on board.

Finkelstein told Good Morning America that he went for a 20-minute flight that afternoon and quickly realized he was having trouble with his engine. He knew he couldn't make it to Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Southport.

The beach was crowed, he said, and made the decision to land in the water.

"My entire focus was to stick to my training," Finkelstein said. "As per training, no time to be afraid."

He was been flying for 17 years and walked away with just a cut on his leg.

The town said Finkelstein sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The plane was recovered and towed out of the water.

A further investigation was turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"The Town of Oak Island would like to thank all mutual aid responders for a fast and effective response to this incident; which include the Oak Island Police and Fire Departments, Southport Fire Department, Caswell Beach Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Brunswick County EMS," the town said in a news release.

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