Oct 27, 2009 6:11 am US/Eastern
Small Plane Mysteriously Disappears In Rockland
Several Agencies Involved In Search After Aircraft Falls Below 700 Feet On FAA Scopes Near Harriman State Park
By ROB MORRISON, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A massive search was underway in Rockland County on Monday night after witnesses reported seeing and hearing a low-flying plane in distress.
The search was happening in the area around Pomona near Harriman State Park.
The Federal Aviation Administration Command Control Center on Long Island reported a small plane disappearing from its scope – or it flew below 700 feet – at approximately 6:09 p.m. on Monday evening in the area near Harriman.
That corroborates what at least a dozen eyewitnesses were reporting as well.
State and county helicopters equipped with infrared and night vision resumed their search Monday night. Officials were focusing on a six square mile area in Haverstraw, specifically in rugged terrain around Horse Chock Mountain near Harriman State Park. Witnesses reported a plume of smoke descending down in the sky behind the mountain.
"It may have cleared the mountain. We don't know," said Hillcrest Fire Chief Kim Weppler. "The specifics right now are vague whether the plane actually did make impact. All we have now is a plane that looked like he was coming down or spiraling down or coming down into the mountain range and leaving a trail of smoke."
Time and darkness were both factors in the search on Monday night. Because of the location six separate agencies were coordinating on the ground, all feeding information to the eyes in the sky.
The county helicopter landed back in Pomona just before 11 p.m. on Monday. The New York State Police helicopter was still airborne.
If no success was made late Monday night into the morning, the search was expected to resume at first light.
Please check back with CBS 2 HD Tuesday morning and wcbstv.com throughout the day for updates on this developing story.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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