Body found in Easton plane crash
EASTON, Md. – A fatal plane crash in Easton is under investigation after the aircraft fell from the sky this morning.
“A twin-engine Cessna took off shortly before 9:00 this morning from Tipton Airport at Fort Meade before crashing into the Tred Avon River,” said Elena Russo, with Maryland State Police.
Tuesday morning, the male victim was brought to shore after his plane crashed. “On scene, we’ve had Maryland Natural Resources Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, Talbot County Fire and EMS crews. And, of course, the Maryland State Police Underwater Recovery team also responded, along with our crime scene technicians from the Forensic Sciences Division,” said Russo.
The victim was on his way to the Easton Airport to move the plane for research on the Chesapeake Bay. “His aircraft is used for very important scientific work to determine when we’re having heat waves like this, to ascertain all the data and all the factors that go into it, and make decisions about public policy and public health,” said David Abrams with the Maryland Department of the Environment.
On board the plane with the sole pilot, the tools to carry out those studies. “Atmospheric research, sampling, and that is, there is equipment from the University of Maryland that goes on board and would normally be used to collect air samples to look at the formation of surface ozone by analyzing the chemical components that are around the Chesapeake Bay area,” said Eric Heidhausen, President of University Research Foundation.
Eric Heidhausen says the plane was in operation for 30 years. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that the pilot said he was experiencing engine failure. Maryland State Police are still investigating. “We’re working with the NTSB and FAA and, you know, combing through the 911 calls that came from the ground, from witnesses. They will be looking at any communication between the pilot and their control systems to find out, you know, what did happen,” said Russo.
Captain Tim McDonald says the plane will be lifted out of the water and moved to another location for further processing by FAA investigators. MSP also says they will release the information on the victim as soon as the next of kin is notified.
