NTSB, FAA Investigating Fatal Sterling Plane Crash That Left Pilot Dead

March 12, 2020

By Douglas Hook

Source MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass. (TNS)

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the fatal Sterling plane crash that left the pilot dead Wednesday afternoon.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. confirmed the death of a veteran pilot after a small Cessna plane crashed into a wooded area off Sterling Airport.

The name of the pilot has not been released as officials notify family members.

The FAA said the plane that crashed is a Cessna 177. The pilot was the only person on board.

“This afternoon at 2:30 p.m. the single-engine plane took off from Sterling Airport and shortly after takeoff, the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, died as a result of a plane crash not too far from the runway,” Early said. “The cause of the crash remains under investigation right now. It’s being investigated by the Sterling police, fire department and state police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.”

In a statement, the FAA said the plane clipped some trees and landed in a swampy area about 100 yards north of runway 16. The FAA will investigate and the NTSB will determine the cause of the crash.

Witnesses will be interviewed to fully understand what went wrong, authorities said.