Pilot escaped crashed plane just before fire

CARROLLTON - The pilot of a single-engine plane escaped from the aircraft just before it burst into flames after leaving the runway and crashing into a field Thursday, authorities said. <br> <br> ``He was lucky,&#39;&#39; Carroll County fire Chief Gary Thomas said. ``The pilot was not injured and is at home now.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Thomas said the Maule M723SC touched down at West Georgia Regional Airport about 6 p.m., but came back up off the runway. The pilot, who was not identified, was unable to gain control, and the plane went off the runway, into a field and cartwheeled. He got out after the plane came to a rest with only a small section of the aircraft on fire. <br> <br> No one else was on the plane, which was a total loss. The fire left only remnants of the aircraft frame surrounded by a burned out circle in the field.