Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing on Long Island Field

RIVERHEAD, NY - A pilot who made an emergency landing in Riverhead got caught in a crosswind Saturday and ended up in a field, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, a call came in at 3:53 p.m. from Illuminatti Aerospace, stating that they had an unauthorized aircraft on the runway and the aircraft may have crashed.

Upon police arrival, Daniel P. Charnews, 71, of Centerport, owner of the single fixed-wing plane, explained that he had landed his plane on the runway because he had motor issues and while taxiing on the runway, he was caught by a crosswind, causing him to lose control of the aircraft, police said.

The aircraft, a 1947 Stinson, model 108, veered off the runway and stopped in the grass field along the runway on its wing, police said.

No injuries were reported, police said. The FAA released the aircraft to the owner and the investigation is still ongoing by the FAA, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Riverhead Police at 631-727-4500.