Small plane crashes during takeoff at San Rafael Airport

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- A small engine plane crashed as it was taking off from the San Rafael Airport Saturday afternoon, a fire chief said.

The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. at the private airport located at 400 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael fire Chief Chris Gray said.

The red single-engine plane flipped over but the pilot was not injured in the accident, Gray said.

Besides the pilot, no one else was inside the plane, he said.

The accident did not spark a fire and no fuel leaked from the plane, according to Gray.

As of about 1:10 p.m., paramedics were assessing the at the scene, the fire chief said.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the crash, Gray said.

Gray did not know where the plane was heading to or any other additional information on the pilot.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office and Marinwood Fire Department also responded to the scene, Gray said.