Crime & Safety
1 Dead In West Milford Plane Crash
Breaking: The pilot was the only occupant of the plane, authorities said.
A pilot was killed when a small, single-engine plane crashed into woods in West Milford Wednesday afternoon, state officials announced.
A Piper PA 32 plane crashed into a heavily wooded area after it took off from runway 24 at Greenwood Lake Airport at about 2:30 p.m., said Jim Peters, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The pilot was the only occupant on board the private plane, said Larry Haijna, a Department of Environmental Protection spokesman. The pilot's name was not released.
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The plane crashed in the woods at the former Jungle Habitat theme park, Hajina said. A small brush fire broke out as a result of the crash. The state Forest Fire Service is working to control the blaze.
The FAA is investigating the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine what caused the plane to crash, Peters said.
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Greenwood Lake Airport is near the West Milford central business district and is owned by the state Department of Transportation. Of the 56 aircraft that are based there, 52 are single-engine planes, information from the FAA shows.
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