Small Plane Crashes in East Patchogue, Pilot Killed

The pilot of a small plane that crashed in an East Patchogue backyard Tuesday morning was killed, police said. 

The private single-engine plane left Republic Airport in East Farmingdale at 8:50 a.m. and crashed into a backyard at 51 Camille Lane at about 9:05 a.m., police said. 

The pilot, Hanan Shoshany, 53, of Jamaica, Queens, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. No one on the ground was injured. 

Members of several fire departments including Hagerman, North Patchogue, Brookhaven, Bellport and Medford responded to the scene.

The plane was bound for MacArthur Airport and it nearly slammed into a room where a mother was caring for her baby, NBC New York reported. 

A witness told FIOS1 that he believes the pilot strategically steered the plane between houses to avoid further destruction. 

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, according to its Twitter feed. The plane was a Columbia LC-41, the NTSB said.