Bucks Co. Man Killed In N.Y. Plane Crash

A Bucks County man was killed in a New York plane crash Wednesday afternoon, police have confirmed.

According to police in Suffolk County, N.Y., Ken Johansen of Doylestown was flying an aerobatics plane when it crashed in Melville, N.Y. just before 2 p.m.

Johansen was flying a Skytyper aircraft that departed from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. when the plane crashed into a wooded area. He was the only person on the plane when it crashed.

Johansen was a teammate and executive officer of the Skytypers. He was a professional airline pilot, a Naval aviator and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Witness Nicole Camille said she saw the plane go down. She said she and her daughter were watching a group of planes that looked like they were practicing for a show. "They went behind some trees at some point so I didn't see," she told Patch. "It didn't sound right after that, and the skies kind of got quiet, my heart kind of dropped, and I just kind of hoped I didn't get a call from my kids schools."

The Skytypers is a team of planes that release a "puff" at planned moments to create a message in the sky.

The group released a statement regarding the crash: "A careful and thorough investigation is already underway. We are working with local law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Our thoughts are with Ken and his family."

Images show the plane caused a blaze following impact. No structures were involved in the crash and no one was injured on the ground.

More details will be available as the investigation goes on.