Pocono News Section

Plane Lands in Tree in Pike County

Plane Lands in Tree in Pike County - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:55PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 @ 05:55pm EST
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP, PIKE COUNTY - A canoer in Gold Key Lake Estates spotted something unusual Tuesday morning.

"She was paddling by and happened to look up and see the plane sitting there in that tree," said Dingman Township Fire Chief William Mikulak as he pointed to a tree overhanging the lake.

The woman called police who rushed to the Pike County Community with rescue workers and firefighters. When they showed up, they couldn't find the pilot or any witnesses. The chief said, "It appears that this may have happened overnight. Nobody heard anything this morning."

He believes the pilot may have landed there on purpose. He explained, "Came in with what they call a dead stall - so it just kinda glided in here - put it in the trees and climbed down."

Rescue workers searched the lake area and surrounding woods for several hours but said they didn't find any sign of the pilot on the ground.

Mikulak said, "We did find some papers and magazines that had names on them. The state police and the FAA are trying to see if we can see who exactly had the plane."

An investigator said the plane may have been flying from New Jersey. It is a single engine piper. Investigators couldn't share any information about the pilot or possible passenger. The fire chief hopes the pilot escaped safely and lets someone know he or she made it out. Mikulak said, "We hope that they're trying to get a hold of somebody or they're trying to get help somewhere."

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. Firefighters aren't sure how they'll get the plane out of the tree.