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Plane Crash in Wayne County

CHERRY RIDGE TOWNSHIP — Emergency crews were on the scene of a plane crash in Wayne County. Crews were called to the Cherry Ridge Airport near Honesdale j...
WAYNE PLANE (2) 5-25-15

CHERRY RIDGE TOWNSHIP -- Emergency crews were on the scene of a plane crash in Wayne County.

Crews were called to the Cherry Ridge Airport near Honesdale just before 12:30 p.m. Monday.

According to emergency crews on the scene, the pilot ran out of runway while trying to land. The plane then rolled over into a swampy area.

"It's a common thing to happen. We are fortunate that it doesn't happen more often and it's just simply a mistake," said airport manager Vincent Van Laak.

The pilot from the Lehigh Valley was able to get out of the plane safely and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries to be checked out.

Emergency crews believe he landed with the wind instead of against it, giving the plane too much speed as it touched down.

The plane was pulled from the swamp and loaded onto a flatbed so the FAA can investigate.

"The FAA inspector will be here tomorrow or the next day to make sure there was nothing wrong with the aircraft and make sure it was simply a simple mistake as it seems to be," Van Laak said.

John Fox of Honesdale has been flying for more than thirty years. He said he has seen plenty of pilots make this same mistake. He and other pilots at the airport said if you can't hit the numbers on the runway when trying to land, the safest thing to do is turn around and try again.

"That's with any type of aircraft--airline, military, or what have you. That's the safe thing to do. You're better off giving it a second chance. It's safety and it's common sense, you know?" Fox said.

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