By Tiffany Williams & DeJaune Jones –
LUDLOW, Mass. — Two people are confirmed dead following an aircraft crash in a wooded area in Ludlow, Massachusetts, after an extensive emergency response and search Saturday night.
Massachusetts State Police and first responders have located the aircraft, which has now been confirmed to be a Piper.
Authorities have not released the identities or genders of the two people killed in the crash.
The incident began with Massachusetts State Police responding to the area of 1668 Center Street in Ludlow for a report of a possible aircraft down.
As emergency crews arrived and additional information developed, it was confirmed that an aircraft had gone down in the woods behind the Center Street area.
Massachusetts State Police, Ludlow Police and Ludlow Fire and EMS responded to the scene. Crews worked their way through the wood line and into the heavily wooded area in an effort to locate and reach the aircraft.
Drones were also deployed over the area as part of the search and emergency response.
Flight-tracking information reviewed by NewsTalk New England appears to point to the aircraft believed to be involved in Saturday night’s crash.
The aircraft is identified in the tracking information as N7653F, a 1976 Piper PA-28.
The aircraft information lists Hyldburg Aviation Inc. as the registered owner.
The available information places Hyldburg Aviation Inc. in Plymouth, Massachusetts, giving the aircraft an apparent connection to the Plymouth area.
The aircraft information identifies N7653F as a fixed-wing, single-engine Piper aircraft.
The Piper PA-28 family is made up of small general-aviation aircraft commonly configured for a small number of occupants. The aircraft involved here dates back to 1976.
The information available to NewsTalk New England indicates the aircraft was registered under a corporation rather than an individual owner.
At this time, however, there has been no confirmation that the two people killed were employees, representatives or otherwise associated with Hyldburg Aviation Inc. beyond being aboard the aircraft believed to be registered to the company.
There has also been no information released identifying who was piloting the aircraft.
Tracking data shows N7653F flying over Ludlow before its final recorded position near the Reynolds Pond area and surrounding woods.
The aircraft was shown at approximately 5,300 feet shortly before its final tracking information displayed a rapid loss of altitude.
The final tracking data showed a barometric altitude of approximately 3,800 feet and a WGS84 altitude of approximately 3,700 feet. The tracking information also displayed a vertical rate of approximately -8,960 feet per minute.
The aircraft’s final displayed coordinates were approximately 42.219 degrees north latitude and 72.404 degrees west longitude.
Those coordinates place the aircraft’s final tracked position extremely close to the Reynolds Pond area and help narrow the final known location of the aircraft before tracking information was lost.
The final tracked position, however, should not necessarily be considered the exact point where the aircraft impacted the ground.
The flight path, location, timing and rapid reported descent are what currently point to N7653F as the aircraft believed to have been involved in the Ludlow crash.
The aircraft has not yet been officially identified by authorities as N7653F.
Authorities have also not released information regarding where the aircraft departed from, where it was headed or what caused it to go down.
Ludlow does not have an active commercial or public municipal airport within the town, although several airports and aviation facilities are located nearby.
Westover Metropolitan Airport in Chicopee is approximately six miles west of Ludlow and shares space with Westover Air Reserve Base. The airport handles general aviation and corporate flights as well as aviation operations associated with the military installation.
Westover Air Reserve Base is roughly 10 miles from Ludlow.
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield is approximately 18 miles west of Ludlow and accommodates general aviation, local flight training and corporate aircraft.
Northampton Airport is approximately 20 miles northwest of Ludlow. It is a small municipal airport and flight school located along the Connecticut River.
Bradley International Airport is approximately 30 miles from Ludlow, or roughly a 35-to-45-minute drive.
At this time, there is no information connecting the aircraft involved in the crash to any of those airports.
The investigation into what caused the aircraft to go down remains underway.
Members of the public should continue to stay away from the area and allow Massachusetts State Police, Ludlow Police, Ludlow Fire and EMS and other personnel room to conduct their operations.
Two people are confirmed dead. Their identities and genders have not yet been released.
This remains a developing story. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.