Small Plane Crashes Into Ocean Off Hampton Beach, New Hampshire (VIDEO)

✈ The plane went into the ocean and flipped onto its top

✈ Hampton Fire & Rescue and lifeguards got the plane and pilot out of the water

✈ FAA and NTSB will investigate

A small banner plane tried to make an emergency landing in the ocean off Hampton Beach early Saturday afternoon.

Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno told Seacoast Current the plane dropped its banner and landed in the ocean about 30 feet from the shore behind the bandshell after having a mechanical issue.

"The lifeguards were able to get him out of the plane. The fire department treated him and made sure he's good. He had no issues, no injuries. The fire department and the lifeguards were able to hitch a rope to it and pull it out of the ocean. It's sitting on the shore waiting for the FAA," Reno said.

Video showed the plane skim the surface of the water and then flip over onto its top as the landing gear hit the ocean, creating a great splash as a gasp went up from beachgoers.  The plane then went straight up and began to sink as several people ran towards the ocean.

CAUTION: PROFANITY

The FAA said the plane was a single engine Piper PA-18. The agency, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), will investigate. FAA records indicate the plane is registered to Eugene F. Gray of North Hampton. Gray is the co-owner of a North Hampton-based business called Sky Lines Aerial Ads.

According to FlightAware.com, the plane took off from the Hampton Airfield at 10:45 a.m. and was in the air for just over an hour before crashing.

A damaged hovercraft traveling from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia made an emergency landing on the beach in Hampton in June. A three-inch tear developed as the craft went through ocean water churned up by a storm.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH