Authorities in New York have initiated an investigation following a tragic incident where a person lost their life in a small plane crash in Niagara County. The incident involved a single-engine Cessna 208B aircraft, typically used for skydiving activities, which crashed near Lake Road close to Youngstown, New York, just before 1 p.m. local time.
According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane, operated by the Skydive the Falls skydiving center, had completed releasing all divers and was returning to the landing site when the crash occurred. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was engaged in parachute operations prior to the tragic event.
Details regarding the exact number of divers on board at the time of the crash remain unclear, as mentioned by Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti during a news conference on Saturday. Additionally, reports indicated that a brush fire ignited near the crash site, requiring immediate attention from the responding emergency crew to extinguish the flames.
Sheriff Filicetti described the plane crash as an unfortunate incident and highlighted the collaborative efforts of local and federal law enforcement agencies in determining the factors that led to the crash. He emphasized the primary focus on preserving life in emergency situations, expressing regret that such efforts were unsuccessful in this case.
An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to visit the crash site to document the airplane wreckage. The wreckage will then be transported to a secure facility for further analysis. The investigation will primarily concentrate on evaluating aspects related to the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.
Authorities have refrained from disclosing the pilot's identity until family notifications have been completed, as stated by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office. The NTSB spokesperson, Peter Knudson, confirmed the forthcoming investigative procedures to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragic plane crash.
