edneff
Well Known Member
Times Herald-Record
June 25, 2007
Town of Wallkill ? A small plane crashed yesterday evening near Scotchtown Collabar Road, killing two people, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman.
Holly Baker with the FAA said investigators were still trying to figure out what happened. As of late last night, they didn't know who was killed, where the plane was going or why it had crashed.
Witnesses said the plane looped and twisted moments before they heard its engine sputter and saw it dive toward the ground.
The crash happened a few feet off of Pufftown Road, Wallkill police Chief Robert Hertman said. Pufftown is a half mile of winding dirt road that extends to the east of its intersection with Scotchtown Collabar. It comes to a dead end inside Highland Lakes State Park.
After viewing the crash site, Hertman said the investigation probably would continue into today. He confirmed only one death.
Patrick Cullen, an off-duty firefighter who lives nearby, said he watched as the plane made a loop, then went straight down. He went looking for it and found the plane crumpled and folded into itself.
A few houses up the road, 17-year-old Sandra Perratta saw the plane and, at first, thought the pilot was performing tricks. She and a friend saw it twist and turn, but they soon realized it was out of control and heard the engine click off.
"I look up and see it, then it was just tumbling and tumbling," Perratta said.
The plane disappeared behind a line of trees, Perratta said, then she heard a "boom" followed by neighbors screaming. Town, state and park police, along with firefighters and ambulances, arrived soon after. A helicopter circled overhead.
Baker said the investigation will take more time because the plane was destroyed. No information about the people who died was available last night.
The FAA said the plane was a Vans RV-4. The RV model line has been around since the early 1970s, and the planes are assembled from kits, according to the company's Web site. Although the RV planes are home-built, Baker said, they must meet FAA standards before they can be registered.
Photographer Jeff Goulding contributed to this report.
June 25, 2007
Town of Wallkill ? A small plane crashed yesterday evening near Scotchtown Collabar Road, killing two people, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman.
Holly Baker with the FAA said investigators were still trying to figure out what happened. As of late last night, they didn't know who was killed, where the plane was going or why it had crashed.
Witnesses said the plane looped and twisted moments before they heard its engine sputter and saw it dive toward the ground.
The crash happened a few feet off of Pufftown Road, Wallkill police Chief Robert Hertman said. Pufftown is a half mile of winding dirt road that extends to the east of its intersection with Scotchtown Collabar. It comes to a dead end inside Highland Lakes State Park.
After viewing the crash site, Hertman said the investigation probably would continue into today. He confirmed only one death.
Patrick Cullen, an off-duty firefighter who lives nearby, said he watched as the plane made a loop, then went straight down. He went looking for it and found the plane crumpled and folded into itself.
A few houses up the road, 17-year-old Sandra Perratta saw the plane and, at first, thought the pilot was performing tricks. She and a friend saw it twist and turn, but they soon realized it was out of control and heard the engine click off.
"I look up and see it, then it was just tumbling and tumbling," Perratta said.
The plane disappeared behind a line of trees, Perratta said, then she heard a "boom" followed by neighbors screaming. Town, state and park police, along with firefighters and ambulances, arrived soon after. A helicopter circled overhead.
Baker said the investigation will take more time because the plane was destroyed. No information about the people who died was available last night.
The FAA said the plane was a Vans RV-4. The RV model line has been around since the early 1970s, and the planes are assembled from kits, according to the company's Web site. Although the RV planes are home-built, Baker said, they must meet FAA standards before they can be registered.
Photographer Jeff Goulding contributed to this report.
