At 2105 eastern time, a Piper PA-32R-301T crashed shortly after the pilot reported an in-flight fire while in cruise flight. The pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane was cruising from Rutland, Vt., to Farmingdale, N.Y., when the pilot reported the fire. The controller vectored the pilot toward Waterbury-Oxford Airport. It was five miles out descending out of 5,500 feet. The approach controller cleared it to land on any runway. The pilot entered a close-in downwind for runway 36 and the tower controller noted the engine compartment engulfed in flames. Witnesses on the ground also reported flames coming from the airplane.
December 20, Woodbury, Ct. / Piper Saratoga
At 2105 eastern time, a Piper PA-32R-301T crashed shortly after the pilot reported an in-flight fire while in cruise flight. The pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane was cruising from Rutland, Vt., to Farmingdale, N.Y., when the pilot reported the fire. The controller vectored the pilot toward Waterbury-Oxford Airport. It was five miles out descending out of 5,500 feet. The approach controller cleared it to land on any runway. The pilot entered a close-in downwind for runway 36 and the tower controller noted the engine compartment engulfed in flames. Witnesses on the ground also reported flames coming from the airplane....
Key Takeaways:
- A Piper PA-32R-301T crashed at 2105 eastern time, killing both the pilot and passenger, shortly after the pilot reported an in-flight fire during cruise.
- The aircraft was en route from Rutland, VT, to Farmingdale, NY, when the fire occurred, and was being vectored to Waterbury-Oxford Airport for an emergency landing.
- Witnesses on the ground and the tower controller observed the engine compartment engulfed in flames as the aircraft made its final approach, crashing shortly after being cleared to land.
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