Rescue agencies from three counties were at a rural air strip in southern Lincoln County Thursday morning, Nov. 5, to help save an airplane pilot from where he had crashed in the woods. The small, "ultralight" aircraft was lodged at the top of high trees around 50 feet back from the air strip, and the 78-year-old pilot had no way to get down.

The area where the crash happened, on Wolf Creek Road, is covered by the Wright City Fire Protection District.

Jim Sharp, Lincoln County's emergency management director, said the pilot seemed to be unharmed and was in good spirits, considering his predicament. He said the pilot had climbed out of the aircraft and secured himself in a tree using rope. At the time, the pilot had been stuck in the tree for multiple hours after the emergency was first reported around 8:30 a.m.

At 11 a.m., Sharp said rescue crews were clearing brush and small trees to make a path through the woods for an all-terrain high lift to enter and bring the pilot safely to the ground. A National Guard helicopter was also called in to stand by for an aerial rescue if crews on the ground weren't able to get to him, Sharp said.

But a little before noon, Lincoln County Fire Protection District announced that a different approach had been taken. Firefighters were able to assemble a rope system to safely lower the pilot to the ground, the district stated through social media.