Actor Harrison Ford has been injured after a small airplane crashed outside Los Angeles in California.

The 72-year-old suffered multiple gashes to his head and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

"We can confirm that there was a plane crash and the male occupant was a 65-70 years old man. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition," Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Officer Nuria Vanegas said.

"The incident was reported at 2.25pm, it was mechanical failure of plane, that's what caused the accident," Ms Vanegas said.

The single-engine plane clipped a tree as it attempted to return to Santa Monica Airport shortly after take-off, and the pilot was ";alert and talking" as he was taken to hospital.

A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said the pilot of the plane reported losing engine power immediately before the crash but that the agency would conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

Mr Ford's son Ben later tweeted about the incident saying his father was ok.

At the hospital. Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man.
— Chef Ben Ford (@ChefBenFord) March 6, 2015

Mr Ford, best known for his roles in such blockbuster films as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, is a longtime aviation enthusiast.