2 dead, 2 missing after small plane crashes off New York's Long Island, FAA says

EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. -- Two people are dead when a small plane crashed off the coast of Long Island, CBS New York reports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Piper PA31 Navajo aircraft went down around 3:20 p.m. Saturday, approximately two miles off the shore near Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett.

The Associated Press reports four people were on board. The Coast Guard said two bodies have been recovered from the crash scene about a mile and a half south of East Hampton.

Capt. Kevin B. Reed told the AP that Coast Guard officers are "stricken by this loss."

East Hampton Police identified the pilot as 47-year-old Jon Dollard, of Hampton Bays, and the passengers as 70-year-old Bernard Krupinski, 70-year-old Bonnie Krupinski and 22-year-old William Maerov, all of East Hampton.  

The AP said that commercial fishing boat crews are assisting in the search for other survivors. Officials said they will continue looking into the late hours of the night.

"We're going to continue to search, Coast Guard's going to continue to search, they have their 87-foot Coast Guard cutters out there, along with two other boats and then our vessels are also searching," East Hampton Police Lt. John Claflin said.

The National Weather Service reported that thunderstorms were moving through the area when the plane went down.

The Coast Guard said the plane lost contact with the airport's control tower during what locals said was a heavy storm.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

In:
• Federal Aviation Administration
• New York