Police said a pilot walked away from a small plane crash in the Matthews area Thursday evening.
It happened just before 7 p.m. in the 3300 block of Margaret Wallace Road near REACH Church. NBC Charlotte learned the pilot was the only one on board and not hurt.
"How long have you lived in the neighborhood?" NBC Charlotte reporter Evan West asked a man who lives near the scene of the accident.
"27 years, never had a plane crash before," replied the man.
Nearby neighbors said there's no doubt the pilot should say a prayer of thanks after landing on the front lawn of REACH church.
"Any further and he probably hit one of these houses, more injuries, stuff like that. I'm glad it didn't happen that way," said Ian McClusky.
Captain Dennis Gist from the Charlotte Fire Department said the pilot refused medical attention. The NTSB was investigating the cause of the accident.
This was the second small plane to crash in the Charlotte area this week. Two people died in a plane crash in Lincoln County on Tuesday.
