Plane crashes outside Rome, N.Y.; no deaths, two injured

(This story was originally published for NCC News at Syracuse University. View the original story.)

Workers clear out the wreckage of the 1985 Piper that crashed in Rome, NY.
Photo by Matt Porter

August 3, 2010 - A plane crashed just after take-off early this morning just outside the city of Rome, N.Y. The two men inside the plane survived the crash with minor injuries, police said.


The pilot, 55-year-old Daniel Kerry, suffered a broken leg, while his
passenger, 64-year-old Timothy McCormick, walked away with only minor
cuts and scratches. Both were sent to Oneida Hospital in Rome after the incident.

Couple Richard and Katrina Hamblin jumped to their feet when they heard the sound of the 1985 Piper hitting the trees across from their home.

"It sounded like an explosion," said 39-year-old Katrina Hamblin, "it was really loud, it shook the house."

Her husband added.

"There was a person coming up the road with a truck full of scrap, he almost ran into the plane as it crashed into the woods," said Hamblin.

The driver of the truck, Josh Frost, said he was headed home when the plane crashed.

"Another second or two, I would have hit the plane," said Frost who was the first to help the pilots at the scene.

State Police Trooper Jack Keller said the plane left the Becks Grove airport at 8:45 am, reported a power loss, tried to turn back, and ultimately crashed in the attempt.

The plane hit a power line on the way down. It knocked out power for around 100 residents for several hours. National Grid said they restored power to all customers by 1pm.

The FAA left the scene late in the afternoon. They are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident.