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Police: Small plane's engine stalled, crashed into trees

By WKTV News

Story Created: Aug 3, 2010 at 9:37 AM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 3, 2010 at 5:06 PM EDT

ROME, N.Y. (WKTV/AP) - Police say two people are doing all right after a small plane crashed in the outer district of Rome.

Trooper Jack Keller says the 1985 Piper went down around 9 a.m. Tuesday, just minutes after departing Becks Grove Airport outside Rome.

The pilot, 55 year-old, Daniel E. Kelly from Sherrill, NY, began to have engine trouble and attempted to return to the airport. Kelly lost power and clipped several trees and power lines then crashed in a wooded area near the intersection of Oswego road and Humaston Road.

Officials say Kelly has a broken leg, while 64-year-old Timothy McCormick of Marcy suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to Oneida Hospital.

Becks Grove is a private, two-runway airstrip 8 miles west of Rome.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.

Witnesses say they heard it all.

"Holy smokes, it was pretty scary," said Rich Amblin, who lives nearby. "The pilot and passenger were injured, but not bad. The pilot had a gash on his neck. I overheard him on the cell phone saying he was running low on fuel and when he switched tanks it stalled on him and it came down like a rock."

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