On Wednesday, February 26 at about 9:20 am, New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation received a call to assist with a plane crash on Mt. Equinox in Bennington County, Vermont.
The report indicated three passengers were aboard the plane at the time of the crash.
The Piper Cherokee Charger, N43DN, carrying three family members, crashed at about 8:30 am on Mount Equinox between the Washington County, NY and Vermont line near Manchester at approximately 3,200 feet elevation, about 600 feet below the summit.
NYS Forest Rangers Gullen and Thompson were preparing for a day of hoist training out of Albany International Airport with NY State Police pilots Anderton and Sperber and Trooper Aurigema.
When the call came in, the crew piloted the rescue helicopter to the crash site.
At about 12:15 pm, Trooper Aurigema lowered both Forest Rangers to the subjects. Rangers packaged the patients and Trooper Aurigema hoisted them into the helicopter.All three family members survived the crash, which may have occurred from significant icing conditions at the time.
An ambulance took two of the patients to the hospital and a MedFlight transported the third patient, all three survived the crash.
The aircraft had departed early Wednesday from Martin State Airport near Baltimore.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the crash and a report is expected by the end of the week.
Interviews given by the DEC rescuers are available on DEC’s Facebook page.
Read about past Forest Ranger missions.
Read about aviation history in New York.
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