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Authorities have not identified the three men who were aboard the rented plane, but the family of Mark Stern confirmed that he was piloting the plane and that he has died, the News-Times said.
The plane crashed into heavy brush on a hillside above the Danbury Dog Park on Miry Brook Road at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday, said James Gagliardo, fire department spokesman.
The Danbury Fire Department crews had to make their way to the crash site, which was located in rugged terrain and in heavy brush, Gagliardo said.
The three male passengers were quickly extricated and transported to Danbury Hospital.
Of the two passengers, one man was in "severe condition," Gagliardo said just after the crash, and the third was in stable condition with minor injuries.
It was not known where the plane was headed after taking off from the westbound runway, he said.
The crash scene is just west of the airport, which is near the Danbury Fair Mall.
Related story: Fire Official Releases Details Of Plane Crash Near Danbury Airport
The National Transportation Safety Board has been brought in to investigate, but no information has been released on the crash.
Stern died from “accidental blunt trauma of the head and trunk,” the state Medical Examiner’s Office told the News-Times.
According to his LinkedIn page, Stern was a parter in the law firm of Mark Stern & Associates in Norwalk. He was a graduate of the University of Florida and the law school at Loyola University in Los Angeles.
Related story: Danbury Police Release 911 Calls Reporting Plane Crash
Stern has complex litigation and transactional experience, according to his LinkedIn profile, which also said he has 30 years of experience in law enforcement and 10 years in commercial helicopter operations.
He was also a member of the Redding Community Emergency Response Team and was trained to assist first responders during emergencies.
Click here for the story at the News-Times website.
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