On Saturday, October 20, 2012, a single-engine plane sputtered and plunged to the bottom of Moriches Inlet, near Long Island, New York, explains aviation accident attorney Jonathan C Reiter. The Globe Swift from the early post-WWII era crashed at approximately 3 pm Saturday afternoon and left two men from Queens dead.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that searchers retrieved the bodies of the two men, as well as the plane, Saturday night, nearly 8 hours after the wreck. U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Erik Swanson explained to reporters that the plane sustained moderate damage, and that it filled with water after the crash, which was believed to be the cause of death for the two men.
The plane departed Spadaro Airport in East Moriches, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman.
Witnesses reported hearing the plane sputter and seeing pieces of the tail falling off the plane. These accounts came from 911 calls received beginning at about 3:06 pm.
Before the plane submerged into the inlet, nearby vessels tried unsuccessfully to pry open the cockpit. Those who attempted to help reported the two men appeared unconscious during their efforts. Those responders also tried to keep the plane afloat by tying a rope to it.
As of Sunday, October 21, 2012, there were no reports on who was operating the plane. The FAA investigation will continue.
