Plane crashes through condo roof in MA; pilot dies
METHUEN, MA (RNN) - A small plane crashed into a condominium building Tuesday, killing the pilot, WCVB reported.
No one at Pride's Crossing condominiums was injured in the incident, according to the Methuen Police Dept.
The complex is on the Merrimack River near Lawrence Municipal Airport, where the flight originated.
Officials say the aircraft crashed during a final approach to the airport.Meuthen Fire Chief Tim Sheehy said the plane was an "experimental-type plane" that held about 50 gallons of fuel.
"We got the word that it's some sort of home-built plane, but I don't want to misspeak here," Sheehy said.
Another official called it a "project plane" that you can build yourself, but it is unknown if the pilot was the builder.
A photo of the scene shows the plane's tail sticking out of the roof. The building caught fire after the plane's crash, but the firefighters were able to clear the area of smoke and knock down the fire. Two apartments were affected with about three-quarters of the plane in one and the rest in another.
Rescuers had to knock down a wall to get to the whole aircraft, and when they got to the pilot, he was dead from his injuries, Sheehy said.
Weather doesn't appear to be a factor. The skies were partly cloudy with calm winds and 10-mile visibility, NECN said.
The FAA said the pilot was flying an experimental aircraft, WHDH reported.
The condominium complex was the site of a 1999 plane crash, WCVB said. In that crash, four people - three critically - were injured when the plane crashed into the complex's parking lot, New England Aviation History said. No one on the ground was hurt.
The crash happened one day after a plane crashed into homes in California, killing three on board and destroying hte homes.
