UPDATE:
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ELLICOTT – The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office has identified the three people who were killed in a plane crash Sunday night near the Chautauqua County Airport.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says the three, Allen Fuller, Valerie Holmes and Linda Edwards, all knew each other. The three occupants resided in Northern Pennsylvania.
Fuller was the pilot of the plane, according to Quattrone.
All bodies remain at the scene pending approval from the FAA for removal, according to the Sheriff. He says that the families of the deceased were notified.
Quattrone says that he suspects the weather played a “major part” of the crash. The FAA is expected to return Monday to conduct its investigation of the crash.
The aircraft, Quattrone said, was traveling from North Carolina to Jamestown when air traffic control lost communication with the plane around 5:50 p.m. just east of the tarmac, where the plane is believed to have crashed.
Blowing snow had caused visibility issues throughout the late afternoon and early evening in the Jamestown area.
The plane is registered as a Grumman GA7 with registration N791GA.
The Aviation Safety Network reports the aircraft, with three occupants onboard, impacted the terrain in Chautauqua County while on approach from the east to Chautauqua County/Jamestown Airport.
The latest information lists the plane as owned by Chautauqua Aircraft Sales, Inc., of Dunkirk.
Quattrone says 13 volunteer fire departments, four police agencies and the county’s CAST team were looking for the plane. A State Police helicopter joined the search this morning.
As first reported by WNY News Now, several law enforcement agencies and fire departments started searching near the Fluvanna Fire Department’s Station II on the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport grounds around 7:30 p.m.
Quattrone says several resources, including a drone, searched east and southeast of the airport.
ORIGINAL:
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ELLICOTT – The search for a missing small passenger plane that lost communication with air traffic control near Jamestown’s airport will continue late into the night on Sunday.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says as of 9:30 p.m. crews have yet to locate the four-seat plane which had two passengers and a pilot on board.
The aircraft, Quattrone says, was traveling from North Carolina to Jamestown when air traffic control lost communication with the plane around 5:50 p.m. just east of the tarmac, where the plane is believed to have crashed.
Blowing snow has caused visibility issues throughout the late afternoon and early evening in the Jamestown area.
Quattrone says 13 volunteer fire departments, four police agencies and the county’s CAST team are actively looking for the plane.
Anyone who spots the plane, or a possible wreckage, is asked to call 911.
He says the Department of Homeland Security is also sending a representative to assist and the U.S. Air Force will also be coming in the morning if the plane is not located before then.
As first reported by WNY News Now, several law enforcement agencies and fire departments started searching near the Fluvanna Fire Department’s Station II on the Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport grounds around 7:30 p.m.
Sheriff Quattrone says several resources, including a drone, searched east and southeast of the airport.
WNY News Now’s Matt Hummel reports there are over 50 first responders on scene looking for the plane.
Hummel reports much of the search is contained to a wooded area just east of the airport and crews are using multiple ATVs to aid in search efforts.
The Sheriff’s Office is also working with the Federal Aviation Administration in conducting the search.
This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available. WNY News Now’s Matt Hummel and Justin Gould contributed to this report.
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