Small plane crashes in N.J. driveway

Small plane crashes in N.J. driveway
Unclear how many people were aboard; no one on ground was injured
Jan 16, 2007

WAYNE, N.J. - A small plane crashed into the driveway of a home and burst into flames Monday night, killing at least one person on board, officials said.

It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard, but state police believed the victim was the pilot. Authorities were searching the area for anyone who might have ejected, said Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department.

It appeared that no one on the ground was injured, officials said, but several roads remained closed Monday night.

Firefighters doused the flames quickly after the plane crashed about 7:45 p.m., state police said.

Investigators were searching the wreckage for clues to the cause. Weather conditions were described as poor.

The area was residential, but the single-engine Beechcraft did not hit any houses, Maer said.

“The neighbors came out and tried to be helpful, but there was a fairly significant fire,” Maer said.