Pilot Killed In Hudson River Plane Crash Had Massachusetts Ties
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – The pilot who was killed when his small plane crashed into the Hudson River was a regular visitor to a Massachusetts airport.
A P-47 Thunderbolt crashed Friday during a promotion for the American Airpower Museum, which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the P-47 this weekend.
Scuba divers recovered the body of the pilot, 56-year-old William Gordon, of Key West, Florida, about three hours after the crash.
Gordon was a veteran air show pilot with more than 25 years of experience, according to promotional material for a Key West air show last month. The website for the April 2-3 air show says Gordon was an "aerobatic competency evaluator" who certified performers to perform low-level aerobatics.
The Florida native regularly flew at Great Barrington Airport in Massachusetts, airport officials said on Saturday.
"Bill was a pilot's pilot, a great gift to aviation," a post on the Great Barrington Airport Facebook page reads. "He could often be seen flying the Stearman based here at GBR or nearly any other plane ever made. Our hearts go out to the numerous friends and family members of Bill. Blue skies and tailwinds Billy!"
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft, which went down near the George Washington Bridge around 7:30 p.m., was among three planes that had departed from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, on Long Island, just east of New York City. The other two aircraft returned to the airport and landed safely.
Museum spokesman Gary Lewi said the plane was kept at the museum and was taking part in an air show at nearby Jones Beach this weekend.
The P47-Thunderbolts were the heaviest single-engine fighter planes used by Allied forces in World War II. They first went into service in 1942, with the 56th Fighter Group based on Long Island.
The one that crashed in the river flew periodically, including to other air shows, Lewi said.
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