EDGEWATER, MD—Governor Larry Hogan on Tuesday commended the citizens and first responders who rescued a pilot following a plane crash in Anne Arundel County.

The pilot and sole occupant has been identified as Steve Couchman, 71, of Frederick. He was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center where he is receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the crash. The plane involved is a Piper Cherokee single engine plane.

At just before 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning, Maryland State Police responded to a report of a plane crash near Lee Airport in Edgewater. Authorities say that, moments after the pilot took off from Lee Airport, the engine of his plane began sputtering. Witnesses told police they heard the sputter and shortly thereafter, they heard the plane crash into Beards Creek.

Two nearby civilians and an on-duty police officer from the Anne Arundel County Police Department who heard the call, used three kayaks to skim across the iced creek to provide assistance to the pilot. While the plane was sinking, the pilot exited his plane and stood on the wing. Once the kayakers were close enough, the pilot was able to hang on to one of them to stay afloat.

Moments later, officers from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police responded to the scene by boat. Upon their arrival, an officer cut through the ice and pulled the pilot safely into the boat and transported him to the Annapolis Landing Marina nearby where the pilot was subsequently transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Officers from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police and Anne Arundel County Police Department responded to assist along with emergency medical service personnel from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. None of the kayakers were injured during the rescue operation.

“We commend the quick actions by residents and first responders who jumped into action to assist a fellow Marylander in distress yesterday morning in Anne Arundel County,” said Governor Hogan on Tuesday morning.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing at this hour.

Photo: Mike Hugg Media via MDNRP