No Injuries In Small Plane Crash Landing Near Ocean City, Md.
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- A small plane crash landed into the ocean near Ocean City Tuesday evening.
The sole occupant was evaluated by paramedics and released. He was identified as Trevor H. Deihl, 23, of Reedville, Virginia.
According to the preliminary investigation, witnesses said that they were on the beach at 20th Street at about 6:15 p.m. when they saw a single-engine airplane crash into the ocean about a quarter of a mile from the shoreline.
Witnesses told officials the plane appeared to glide toward the water as it descended and then float on the surface of the ocean when it landed.
Personnel from the Ocean City Beach Patrol and the Ocean City Police Department immediately responded to the scene.
Maryland State Police responded after being notified by the Ocean City Police Department.
Plane crashes in Ocean City Maryland right off of the beach. Pilot swam to shore. pic.twitter.com/KZx7r4PRz1
— Donna (@donnacut) July 16, 2019
The airplane was a single-engine 1981 Cessna 172 RG owned by Deihl. He told State Police that he had taken off from Reedville, Virginia, and had planned to land at the Ocean City Airport.
Deihl said that he was about a mile offshore when he had engine trouble and ultimately glided the plane into the ocean.
Multiple Twitter users posted video and photos showing the airplane crashing into the ocean.
Charlotte Higdon was on the beach near 41st Street when the plane crashed.
"I happened to look up and I saw the plane coming right directly over top of us, and I said to my husband, 'Look at that! That's strange! It's very close,'" Higdon said. "The engine was making a sputtering noise and there was smoke coming out of the one side of it."
Viewer Video Courtesy: Graysen Levy
Plane just crashed in Ocean City MD. Right in front of my hotel pic.twitter.com/rcHVAstgGA
— Jameson86 (@moyerm86) July 16, 2019
Higdon said that she was worried that the plane was going to come down and hit somebody's family on the beach.
"From our angle, it looked like it was coming down in the sand on top of people," she said. "We were panicking like oh goodness is that going to come down and hit somebody's family on the beach."
Hidgon said that it was a miracle that no one got hurt.
"It was nuts," Hidgon said. "It's not something you see every day on the beach."
Police said that although it appears that there were mechanical issues, they are still investigating the cause.