| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
FATAL AIRPLANE ACCIDENT NEAR CATAMOUNT SKI RESORT
NOVEMBER 12, 2010
COPAKE, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that Deputy Sheriff’s were requested to assist
the Egremont Police and Fire Departments and the Mass State Police on the mountain near the Catamount Ski
Area on the New York State – Massachusetts Border.
Just before 11:00am Massachusetts Emergency Services were contacted by a hunter who came upon what
appeared to be an aircraft accident. The actual accident site itself was not accessed by emergency services and
Deputy Sheriff’s until afternoon time due to the heavily wooded area with thick under brush. The search for
survivors initiated and was assisted by a helicopter from the Massachusetts State Police.
There was one confirmed fatality and the crash scene has been determined to be just in the Town of Copake,
Columbia County New York State side of the border.
The airplane itself is a small fixed wing aircraft which caused a fire on the crash area which had burned itself out by
the time the scene was accessed. It is unknown exactly when the accident occurred at this time.
Sheriff’s Investigators are on the scene as are Sheriff Harrison, Undersheriff James Sweet, Captain David P. Bartlett
and Columbia County Coroner Dr. George Davis. The National Traffic Safety Board has been contacted and is
responding to the scene.
Investigators are also contacting area airports and the investigation is continuing.
TWO KILLED IN PLANE ACCIDENT
NOVEMBER 13, 2010
COPAKE, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the aircraft accident reported yesterday
resulted in the death of two individuals. Deputy Sheriffs were on scene all night and the investigation continued at
9:00 this morning with Sheriff's Investigators, Coroner Dr. George Davis and investigators from the National Traffic
Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration. NYS Forest Rangers assisted on scene with search efforts and
by clearing a larger path to the crash area and around the area itself. The land that the crash is located on is NYS
Park property near the NYS – Mass border.
Although not positively identified, it is believed that the two people who were killed in the accident are the owner and
pilot of the plane, John Welch 64 years old of Concord, New Hampshire and a friend, 63 year old passenger,
Margaret “Peggy” Noonan of West Stockbridge, Ma. An autopsy will be performed at St Peters hospital Sunday
morning at 8:30am.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the plane was en-route to the Great Barrington Airport from
the Pennsylvania area when it crashed on top of the mountain near the Catamount Ski Area. At this time it appears
that the plane initially struck the top of trees on the top of the mountain causing it to crash. Both the pilot and
passenger were killed on impact. Family members of both have been contacted and notified.
Investigator Bob Gretz of the National Traffic Safety Board advised that his agency's investigative report will be
released at the conclusion of the investigation which could be several days to several weeks.
It is believed that the crash occurred on Wednesday, November 10th at approximately 7:50pm as it was on
approach to the air port.
Assisting at the scene as well were Officers from the NYS Park Police and Catamount Ski management and
employees.
NOVEMBER 12, 2010
COPAKE, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that Deputy Sheriff’s were requested to assist
the Egremont Police and Fire Departments and the Mass State Police on the mountain near the Catamount Ski
Area on the New York State – Massachusetts Border.
Just before 11:00am Massachusetts Emergency Services were contacted by a hunter who came upon what
appeared to be an aircraft accident. The actual accident site itself was not accessed by emergency services and
Deputy Sheriff’s until afternoon time due to the heavily wooded area with thick under brush. The search for
survivors initiated and was assisted by a helicopter from the Massachusetts State Police.
There was one confirmed fatality and the crash scene has been determined to be just in the Town of Copake,
Columbia County New York State side of the border.
The airplane itself is a small fixed wing aircraft which caused a fire on the crash area which had burned itself out by
the time the scene was accessed. It is unknown exactly when the accident occurred at this time.
Sheriff’s Investigators are on the scene as are Sheriff Harrison, Undersheriff James Sweet, Captain David P. Bartlett
and Columbia County Coroner Dr. George Davis. The National Traffic Safety Board has been contacted and is
responding to the scene.
Investigators are also contacting area airports and the investigation is continuing.
TWO KILLED IN PLANE ACCIDENT
NOVEMBER 13, 2010
COPAKE, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that the aircraft accident reported yesterday
resulted in the death of two individuals. Deputy Sheriffs were on scene all night and the investigation continued at
9:00 this morning with Sheriff's Investigators, Coroner Dr. George Davis and investigators from the National Traffic
Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration. NYS Forest Rangers assisted on scene with search efforts and
by clearing a larger path to the crash area and around the area itself. The land that the crash is located on is NYS
Park property near the NYS – Mass border.
Although not positively identified, it is believed that the two people who were killed in the accident are the owner and
pilot of the plane, John Welch 64 years old of Concord, New Hampshire and a friend, 63 year old passenger,
Margaret “Peggy” Noonan of West Stockbridge, Ma. An autopsy will be performed at St Peters hospital Sunday
morning at 8:30am.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the plane was en-route to the Great Barrington Airport from
the Pennsylvania area when it crashed on top of the mountain near the Catamount Ski Area. At this time it appears
that the plane initially struck the top of trees on the top of the mountain causing it to crash. Both the pilot and
passenger were killed on impact. Family members of both have been contacted and notified.
Investigator Bob Gretz of the National Traffic Safety Board advised that his agency's investigative report will be
released at the conclusion of the investigation which could be several days to several weeks.
It is believed that the crash occurred on Wednesday, November 10th at approximately 7:50pm as it was on
approach to the air port.
Assisting at the scene as well were Officers from the NYS Park Police and Catamount Ski management and
employees.