The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash of a single engine plane Monday morning at the Chadron airport.

66-year old William Earl of Jacksonville, Oregon, said he was taking off a little before 7:00 when a mechanical problem with the cockpit canopy caused the plane to drop back onto the runway nose first and skid to a stop just off the runway.

The plane suffered extensive damage that will most likely result in it being totaled, but Earl suffered only minor injuries and drove himself to Chadron Community Hospital for treatment.

The FAA office in Rapid City is currently the lead investigation agency into accident, but any questions about it should be directed to the FAA in Lincoln Nebraska.