4 People Dead After Plane Crash in Vermont

Four Connecticut residents, including a 15-year-old student taking flying lessons, tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in Vermont.

At a Glance

A four-seat, single-engine Piper crashed on return flight from Vermont to Connecticut.
The victims include a high school teacher, student, and World War II veteran.
No distress reports were received; the wreckage was found using cellphone data.
The FAA and National Transit Safety Board are investigating the cause.

Tragic Flight Ends in Disaster

A routine flying lesson turned into a devastating tragedy when a small plane carrying four Connecticut residents crashed in Vermont. The aircraft, a four-seat, single-engine Piper, departed from Windham Airport in Connecticut for a day trip to Ferrisburgh, Vermont. The group had planned to enjoy brunch before returning home. Sadly, the return flight would never reach its destination.

The victims were identified as Paul Pelletier, 55, an Aerospace and Manufacturing teacher at Middletown High School; his student Delilah Van Ness, 15; Susan Van Ness, 51; and Frank Rodriguez, 88, a World War II veteran. The group had successfully landed at Basin Harbor for their brunch outing and were on their way back to Connecticut when disaster struck.

Four Connecticut residents were killed in a plane crash in Vermont over the weekend, including a 15-year-old girl who was taking flying lessons, authorities said Mondayhttps://t.co/BdgQDP75MD

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) September 9, 2024

Search and Recovery Efforts

Alarm bells rang when the plane failed to return to Windham Airport as scheduled, with no distress signals received. Authorities immediately launched a search operation, utilizing cellphone data to track the aircraft’s last known location. Vermont State Police, assisted by local departments and a drone, located the wreckage in a wooded area near Basin Harbor Airport around 12:20 a.m. Monday.

“This unimaginable loss has left a void in our hearts and our community. Paul, Delilah, and Susan were special individuals whose absence is already being felt throughout our district and city,” said Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools

The victims’ bodies were transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for autopsies to determine the exact cause of death. This tragic event has deeply shaken the Middletown community, prompting the closure of Middletown High School to allow students and staff time to grieve.

Ongoing Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a thorough investigation into the crash. Investigators will examine various factors, including the pilot’s qualifications, aircraft maintenance records, and environmental conditions at the time of the incident. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though a complete investigation may take up to 18 months.

As the investigation unfolds, this tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with small aircraft operations. While flying remains one of the safest forms of travel, especially in commercial aviation, incidents like these underscore the critical importance of rigorous training, meticulous maintenance, and unwavering adherence to safety protocols in all aspects of aviation.

The NTSB has called for anyone with information about the crash to come forward, as every detail could be crucial in understanding what went wrong and preventing similar tragedies in the future. As the Middletown community mourns, the nation watches, hoping for answers and improvements in aviation safety that might prevent such heartbreaking losses in the future.