2 dead in small plane crash at central Pa. airport June 16, 2016 4:55 PM
By Mike Danielewski / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two people were killed Thursday morning when a small plane that took off from an airport in Washington County crashed in Centre County, officials said.
The airplane left the Washington County Airport in South Franklin about 7:30 a.m. and crashed as it approached an airport operated by Penn State University less than an hour later.
The two who were killed were the only people aboard the aircraft. Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers has not identified the victims as officials try to locate next of kin.
University spokeswoman Heather Robbins said tower crews at University Park Airport saw smoke coming from the aircraft as it approached about 8:20 a.m. Thursday. She said they tried to alert the pilot but got no response.
The airport was closed after the crash as authorities investigated. It was reopened at 10:30 a.m.
Officials at the Washington County Airport said the plane was a Piper Navajo owned by Aero National Inc., an air ambulance service.
It was unclear whether the plane was being used for medical services when it crashed. Aero National could not be reached Thursday evening.
The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
A small, experimental aircraft crash-landed at the University Park Airport eight days ago. The pilot was not injured.
The Associated Press contributed. Mike Danielewski: mdanielewski@post-gazette.com, 412-263-4871 or @mdanielewski.
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Date:
16-JUN-2016
Time: 08:20
Type:
Piper PA-31-325 Navajo
Owner/operator: Aeronational Inc
Registration: N3591P
C/n / msn: 31-8012081
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Near University Park Airport (KUNV), State College, PA -
United States of America Phase: Approach
Nature: Passenger
Departure airport: Washington County (KAFJ)
Destination airport: University Park (KUNV)
Narrative:
The aircraft impacted wooded terrain and a fire ensued while on approach from the east to University Park Airport (KUNV), State College, Pennsylvania. The airplane was destroyed and the two occupants onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2016/06/16/Emergency-agency-Small-plane-down-in-central-Pennsylvania-penn-state-airport/stories/201606160147
http://www.wpxi.com/news/two-people-killed-when-plane-from-washington-county-crashes-near-penn-state/346411368
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/article84175037.html
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N3591P/history/20160616/1140Z/KAFJ/KUNV
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N3591P
http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:95:0::NO::P95_EVENT_LCL_DATE,P95_LOC_CITY_NAME,P95_REGIST_NBR:16-JUN-16,STATE%20COLLEGE,N3591P
http://aeronationalinc.com/our-fleet/
https://flightaware.com/photos/view/269247-4bf38eec918110750bb537eae7b194faa4494715/aircrafttype/PA31
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Pittsburgh eye surgeon, White Oak pilot killed in Centre County plane crash June 17, 2016 11:15 AM
Nittany Eye Associates
Dr. Robert Arffa
By Lauren Rosenblatt / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Pittsburgh eye surgeon was one of two people killed when a small plane from Washington County crashed trying to land Thursday at University Park Airport in Centre County.
Dr. Robert Arffa, 52, a noted corneal specialist and Lasik surgeon, was killed along with the plane’s pilot, Gary Orner, 60, of White Oak, according to Centre County coroner Scott Sayers.
Nittany Eye Associates & Laser Eye Center confirmed the death of Dr. Arffa, who worked out of the practice’s Bridgeville office.
“We, at Nittany Eye, are devastated by this news. Dr. Arffa was a world class surgeon. He was also a world class friend to all who knew him,” the optometry practice, based in State College, said on its Facebook page. “As he has done for every month in the last fifteen years, Dr. Arffa was traveling from Pittsburgh to State College to perform LASIK and YAG laser procedures at Nittany Eye.”
Staff contacted today at Nittany Eye’s various offices declined comment.
The small plane, a Piper Navajo owned by Washington, Pa.-based Aero National Inc., left the Washington County Airport in South Franklin about 7:30 a.m. and crashed less than an hour later as it approached the airport, which is operated by Penn State University.
Mr. Orner, who worked full time for Aero National, and Dr. Arffa were the only people aboard the aircraft.
University spokeswoman Heather Robbins said tower crews at University Park Airport saw smoke coming from the aircraft as it approached about 8:20 a.m. Thursday. She said they tried to alert the pilot but got no response.
The airport was closed after the crash as authorities investigated. It reopened at 10:30 a.m.
Thomas Pizzuti, president of Aero National, said today that “Gary will be greatly missed by his friends at Aero National.”
"Gary was an experienced pilot and had flown this scheduled charter with Dr. Arffa on numerous occasions," he said.
Mr. Pizzuti said his company extends its “deepest sympathies to the Orner and Arffa families at this very difficult time.”
The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
A small, experimental aircraft crash-landed at the University Park Airport eight days ago. The pilot, the lone occupant, was not injured.