Airplane crashes in Rockingham County near EMU

Rescuers responded to a report of an airplane crash in farmland northwest of Eastern Mennonite University shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday.

Initial reports spoke of a Piper Cub style aircraft (a small, single-engine type) that crashed and came to rest against a tree in the 3400 block of Fort Lynne Road

WHSV reporter Janson Silvers went there and tweeted photos and video confirming this. Silvers also filmed AirCare landing nearby.

Responders told Silvers that there were two occupants: Walter Embree, age 65, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Embree. Walter Embree was airlifted to UVA Medical Center with serious looking but non-life-threatening injuries. Paul Embree was sent to Sentara RMH. One of the two was trapped in the wreckage and and needed to by cut out. The other had cuts and bruises.

Virginia State Police are handling the initial investigation.

"Preliminary findings are that the pilot was attempting to take off from a private landing strip and failed establish adequate speed to gain any altitude," Trooper Pyanoe told Silvers.

The white plane with blue trim is a Piper Pacer 160.