GHENT—An attempt to take-off from the Columbia County Airport ended in a crash into the woods for an 87-year-old pilot, July 29 just before 2 p.m.
Columbia County 911 dispatched Sheriff’s deputies to the crash just off the airport runway at 1142 Route 9H.
Sheriff’s Sergeant Brian Molinski arrived on the scene and found Fred DeFilippis, 87, of Dobbs Ferry (Westchester County) at the crash scene.
Mr. DeFilippis was the pilot, and sole occupant of the airplane—a 1978 Cessna 172N, single-engine, fixed-wing craft. He was trying to take off from the airport, but as the airplane became airborne, it veered to the left for an unknown reason, and crashed into the wooded area on the east side of the runway.
Mr. DeFilippis was able to get out of the plane and walked away unhurt.
He was evaluated on the scene by members of the Greenport Rescue Squad and refused any further medical treatment.
Along with the squad and Sgt. Molinski, Sheriff David Bartlett, Undersheriff John Davi, Lieutenant Louis Bray, Senior Investigator Mark Dunspaugh, Investigator Reagan Anderson, Sgt. Eli Fieser, and Deputy Daniel Keyser were all on scene. State Police, West Ghent firefighters were also there.
The Federal Aviation Administration in Albany was contacted regarding the crash. Firefighters were back in service at 2:29 p.m.