Plane Crashes Into Drainage Brook, Somerset County Owner Uninjured

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A plane trying to land on a runway in Essex County crashed into a drainage brook on Sunday leaving three people, including a Bernardsville man, uninjured.

On April 17 at around 2:41 p.m., a 2020 Citation CJ3 Plus plane was trying to land on Runway 22 at the Essex County Airport at 125 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, said Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna.

As the plane was descending, strong crosswinds caused the plane to not touch down on the runway soon enough, said Manna.

"The plane traveled briefly on the runway, then onto a grassy area and finally ended up in the drainage brook," said Manna.

Fairfield Police Department and other emergency responders went to the airport where they found the plane off the end of Runway 22 in a drainage brook, said Manna.

Three people were trying to get out of the plane when police arrived. All three — including a pilot in command, second in command and the plane’s owner — were all uninjured.

The occupants of the plane were: Corie Dave Bennett, 45, of Danbury, CT; Carlos Rodriguez, 57, of Poughkeepsie, NY; and the plane's owner, Edward P. Gregory, 66, of Bernardsville.

The crash caused the plane to leak jet fuel into the brook. The Nutley Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Unit was called in to help the Fairfield Fire Department to contain the spill.

"We are very relieved that no one was injured as a result of this incident," said Manna.

Also responding to help were the West Caldwell Police and Fire Departments, the Essex County Sheriff's Department, and the West Essex First Aid Squad. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Bureau were both notified of the incident.

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