© Kevin P. Coughlin/The Wall Street Journal
Authorities from the Suffolk County Police and other officials investigate the scene where a small plane crashed shortly after noon on Sunday in Shirley, Long Island.
Authorities from the Suffolk County Police and other officials investigate the scene where a small plane crashed shortly after noon on Sunday in Shirley, Long Island.
The single-engine plane took off from Brookhaven Calabro Airport around noon and had trouble "almost immediately," crashing less than a mile from the airstrip, said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, who was at the scene Sunday afternoon.
Witnesses said the struggling Socata TB10 plane flew just over the roofs of houses in the heavily wooded hamlet of Shirley, about 65 miles east of Manhattan. It then crashed into a large tree, struck a Dumpster on the ground and burst into flames on Helene Avenue, witnesses said.
"I just stood there, and I froze," said Melvin Resto, 24 years old, who watched the scene from his backyard along with his sister, Jacqueline Resto and her boyfriend, Darnell Lee. "I was very traumatized."
Mr. Resto and Mr. Lee, 26, a trained aviation electrician, said they rushed out to the crippled plane and used two garden hoses to try to keep flames from engulfing the pilot, who appeared unable to move his legs.
