FAA to lead investigation into Fulton plane crash
FULTON, N.Y. — Firefighters say one person was taken to the hospital after a small plane crashed in Fulton Thursday afternoon.
They say the call came in at 3:24 p.m. Thursday that the plane crashed at N. 4th St. near Ontario Street. Emergency crews are still on the scene.
The Oswego County Airport is about 2 miles away from where the plane went down. Fulton's Police Chief Orlo Green says the pilot, Michael Simpson, was flying from Malone, New York en route to the Oswego County Airport when the plane apparently lost power.
"It looks like he may have tried to land on the highway and caught the pole with the wing of the plane," Chief Green said.
"You're talking about an urban area, over a city. Thank God no one else was injured."
Firefighters say they extricated Simpson from the plane which landed in the middle of the road on North 4th St. They say he was concious and taken to the hospital, but the injuries do not appear life-threatening.
"He's a very lucky man," said Chief Green.
Friday morning, Simpson released a statement to Upstate University Hospital, where he's being treated.
"I would like to thank first responders and the medical team at Upstate University Hospital for their help. I feel blessed and grateful for everyone involved in my rescue. I have been treated with nothing but the utmost professionalism throughout, and I appreciate our entire community’s outpouring of support and concern." —Michael Simpson
The F.A.A. will lead the investigation into why the plane went down.
