A late-night plane crash near Adirondack Regional Airport in Franklin County is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
New York State Police say they were notified of a downed aircraft at approximately 11:15 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Hearf’s Way and State Route 186 in the Town of Harrietstown.
Authorities immediately launched a multi-agency search. Investigators determined that a 1976 Piper Aerostar had departed Adirondack Regional Airport at approximately 10:36 p.m. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was estimated to be about 100 feet above the ground, communication with the plane was lost. Search crews later located the aircraft, which had been destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire.
Officials have not yet confirmed how many people were on board the aircraft.
State Police were assisted at the scene by local fire departments, the Saranac Lake Police Department, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers.
The National Transportation Safety Board has responded to the scene and is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
