GRANT-VALKARIA, Fla. – A 17-year-old piloting her first solo flight flipped her plane while practicing touch-and-goes near Valkaria Airport.
The teen, whose name has not been released, was injured around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and taken to Palm Bay Hospital with minor injuries. She was later released from the hospital.
Officials said the teen was piloting a Cessna 172, which overturned into a field.
The plane was a rental plane and took off from Melbourne International Airport, but the teen was practicing at Valkaria Airport.
Officials say the instructor was watching the teen practice from a short distance away.
The FAA and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash.