08-28-2010, 07:11 AM
A pilot was killed at Beverly Airport today, Aug. 27, around noon when a moving propeller struck him.
Officials are withholding the victim’s name pending further investigation into the incident and said they planned to release more details later today.
There were no other injuries.
The airport will remain closed until the conclusion of the investigation.
Paul Vitale, chairman of the Beverly Airport Commission, said the pilot was from the local area and “was a good guy who helped a lot around the airport” and said, “I don’t know how many years he worked here, but he was around here for a long time.”
Vitale wouldn’t confirm scenarios surrounding the accident, but did say the Beverly Flight School “was involved,” although he wouldn’t say whether or not the victim was a flight instructor.
Vitale said he couldn’t comment on one news report, which quoted an FAA source, in which the victim left his plane to help with a mechanical problem on a second plane, possibly involving the canopy. As he helped out, the propeller from the second plane struck and killed him, according to the unconfirmed report.
Vitale said the FAA is the lead agency in charge of the investigation, but the State Police, the Beverly Police, officials from the National Transportation and Safety Board and the state medical examiner’s office were all working on the investigation.
“His friends at the airport and his family are just devastated by this,” said Vitale.
-i don't even know what to say. Idk how something like this could happen. I know everyone at Beverly, we are like a little family. I feel so bad for everyone. Huge loss, I'm waiting to hear who it was, but I think I know. I just don't understand how this could happen, why would he walk over with the prop spinning.
Stupid accident that shouldn't have happened.
Yeah, it was who I thought it was
Officials are withholding the victim’s name pending further investigation into the incident and said they planned to release more details later today.
There were no other injuries.
The airport will remain closed until the conclusion of the investigation.
Paul Vitale, chairman of the Beverly Airport Commission, said the pilot was from the local area and “was a good guy who helped a lot around the airport” and said, “I don’t know how many years he worked here, but he was around here for a long time.”
Vitale wouldn’t confirm scenarios surrounding the accident, but did say the Beverly Flight School “was involved,” although he wouldn’t say whether or not the victim was a flight instructor.
Vitale said he couldn’t comment on one news report, which quoted an FAA source, in which the victim left his plane to help with a mechanical problem on a second plane, possibly involving the canopy. As he helped out, the propeller from the second plane struck and killed him, according to the unconfirmed report.
Vitale said the FAA is the lead agency in charge of the investigation, but the State Police, the Beverly Police, officials from the National Transportation and Safety Board and the state medical examiner’s office were all working on the investigation.
“His friends at the airport and his family are just devastated by this,” said Vitale.
-i don't even know what to say. Idk how something like this could happen. I know everyone at Beverly, we are like a little family. I feel so bad for everyone. Huge loss, I'm waiting to hear who it was, but I think I know. I just don't understand how this could happen, why would he walk over with the prop spinning.
Stupid accident that shouldn't have happened.
Yeah, it was who I thought it was