2 men dead following airplane wreck near Jersey Shore (original) (raw)

JERSEY SHORE – A pilot and his male passenger were killed when the small bi-plane they were in crashed shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday near the Jersey Shore Airport, Lycoming County officials said.

One of the men was identified as an area resident, according to Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. at the scene shortly after 8 p.m.

The crash happened about 4:45 p.m. off Long Lane, in Nippenose Township, in an area just outside of the airstrip.

Kiessling said he was waiting to notify the mens’ next of kin.

The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted.

“There have been bi-planes flying in/out of the airport,” said Nancy Frye, who added her husband has a bi-plane. “Typically, the planes fly over our house if they depart to the north.” The pilot was from the area, she said.

Access to the scene required vehicles that were either four-wheel-drive or able to access swampy terrain on a single lane.

One fire official said he had a report that the airplane did a nose dive.

Several individuals reported seeing a low-flying smaller aircraft east of the airport closer to the city.

Victoria Muhs said she saw an airplane flying too low that sounded as though the engine was having difficulty.

City resident Marcella DeSanto said she also heard what appeared to be a low-flying airplane.

Susan G. Moss-Danielson said she noticed a low-flying airplane over a residence in Loyalsock Township.