2 Killed In Small Plane Crash In Southhold; Dog On Board Somehow Survives
MATTITUCK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Two people were killed when a small plane crashed on the North Fork of Long Island Saturday morning.
The Beechcraft A36 with two people aboard went down at around 9:15 a.m. near Sound Avenue in Southhold, according to the FAA, reports CBS2's Dave Carlin.
Southhold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said both people on board were killed in the crash. Their names were withheld by police.
Incredibly, a dog who was also on the plane somehow managed to survive, according to Southhold Police.
The plane was en route to Bedford, Mass. from MacArthur Airport.
A witness to their last moments was Mattituck's William Wallace who was outside by his pool.
"i just thought wow that is really low," said Wallace. "Being as low as he was and I think about it, I didn't hear anything so maybe his engine was already cut on him already and that's why he was listing."
The plane was en route to Bedford, Mass. from MacArthur Airport.
"This morning around 9:30am, a small plane crashed in our field after flying low over our property. Firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel arrived at the scene within minutes and put out the ensuing fire," Harbes Farms said in a statement. "This is a sad tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the passengers of the aircraft."
John Duell is a pilot who lives in Cutchogue and owns a similar model aircraft. He said he thinks it's unlikely he knows the pilot who was heading to New England. He expect it will be a few days before the cause is known.
"Doubtful it was a lack of fuel or anything because they had just taken off, and there was a fire so it must've been something else mechanical," said Duell.
The dog that survived the crash was later found by a farmer the dog was handed over to police officers, who waited for friends of the victims to retrieve the animal.
Investigators said it seemed the pilot made sure to avoid a populated area or road, aiming for a freshly cut field to stay away from roadways or farm stands.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
"They'll extricate the bodies and well bring the records to the impound, and the FAA and the NTSB will conduct their investigation," said Lt. Richard Perkins of the Southold Town Police Department.
