Two people died Sunday after a small plane crashed near North Applegate Road in the Town of Enfield, according to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office.
David Kornreich, 52, the owner of the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrew R. Harrell, 31, was taken to Cayuga Medical Center in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
Deputies were called to the 100 block of North Applegate Road at about 12:35 p.m. after a witness reported seeing the aircraft go down. Investigators identified the plane as a 1977 Lake LA-4-200.
The preliminary investigation found the aircraft had been cleared for takeoff from Ithaca Tompkins International Airport at 11:24 a.m. Its last contact with the airport tower came at 12:02 p.m.
A witness who reported the crash told authorities the plane appeared to be experiencing a mechanical problem before it went down.
No other people or structures were involved in the crash, and no roads were closed as emergency crews worked at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.
“This is a terrible and tragic situation,” Sheriff Derek Osborne said. “Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the victims.”
New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Enfield Fire and Rescue, the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response, Ithaca Fire Department, Ithaca Tompkins International Airport firefighters and Trumansburg Fire Department assisted at the scene.
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