MARION — A 77-year-old man was taken to the hospital after a glider he was piloting crashed into a field near Marion Municipal Airport.

Martin Sobel was piloting a glider Saturday which was being towed by another aircraft, according to the Marion post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Shortly after takeoff, the glider experienced difficulty maintaining stability and disconnected from the tow plane, the highway patrol reported.

The Patrol reported that Sobel tried to circle around to land but struck a tree line and crashed into a field about one mile northwest of the departure end of the runway just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sobel was transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation, according to the highway patrol.

The Marion Police Department, Marion City Fire and Rescue and Marion County Sheriff’s Department assisted the FAA and the highway patrol at the scene of the crash.

Staff report