MINEOLA (November 19, 2009)—A pilot survived the crash of his small plane and managed to make a phone call for help Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

The DPS identified the pilot as Michael Anthony Thern, 36, of Plano.

DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said the single-engine plane evidently clipped some treetops and crashed about 4:45 a.m. Thursday a half-mile north of Wood County Airport, between Mineola and Quitman.

Vinger said Thern was hospitalized with two possible fractured ankles and lacerations, but the injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

Mineola is about 80 miles east of Dallas.