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A pilot was injured after a single-manned aircraft crashed on the grounds of a school in Northern Westchester.
The incident happened just after 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, when Yorktown Police were notified by a resident that a small plane had crashed on the property of the Shrub Oak International School in Mohegan Lake at 3151 Stony Street.
According to the department, officers arrived at the scene within minutes and confirmed that a single-engine Cessna plane had crashed on the school property, which resulted in the building being placed on lockout. Police also found the pilot conscious and alert outside of the wreckage.
The pilot, identified as a 66-year-old Tuckahoe resident, said that he had been flying from Westchester County Airport to Orange County Airport when mechanical issues made it impossible for him to gain or maintain altitude.
The pilot then had to quickly find a safe place to make a hard landing and chose the school's property as a suitable spot.
Because the plane's wreckage was leaking fuel, firefighters from the Mohegan Lake Professional and Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene to help clean the spill. Additionally, first responders from the Mohegan Lake Ambulance Corps and Empress Paramedics treated the pilot, who had suffered minor injuries from the incident.
Authorities also notified the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Agency about the crash and confirmed that it had been a scheduled flight with Westchester Airport and the FAA.
No criminality was found to be associated with the crash, police said.
Eventually, the scene of the crash was turned over to fire officials so they could oversee the fuel cleanup and the removal of the wreckage.
Authorities also told the school's staff that they could lift the lockout, according to Yorktown Police.
The pilot, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, has since been taken to Westchester Medical Center for observation and treatment.
The investigation into the crash will now be handled by the NTSB and the FAA. The wreckage will not be removed from the scene until the scene is confirmed to be safe, authorities said.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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