http://tracypress.com/content/view/11920/2242/

A pilot died last night from injuries he sustained when he plowed his ultralight plane into an orchard across from New Jerusalem Airport — about a quarter-mile south of Durham Ferry Road.

His plane flew under a low-slung power lines and crashed into the base of a tree, which folded the wings back and trapped the pilot. He died during the night struggling to free himself, said Germane Friends, Tracy Fire Department Division Chief.

The pilot, a man in his 50s whose identity will be released later today, took off from the rural airport sometime between 9 and midnight Thursday, despite the darkness, Friends said.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's department identified the man as Paul M. Splan of Frenso, but did not release his age.

Thanks to Dan

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