The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a plane crash that occurred Friday evening when it tried to land at Gadabout Gaddis Airport in Bingham.

The pilot and the passenger, both from Rhode Island, were not hurt in the crash, according to a news release from Cpl. Ritchie Putnam, of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency workers arrived at the scene to find a small, single-engine plane off the northern end of the runway, it says.

“The plane had been attempting to land at the airport and could not stop at the end of the runway. The plane had gone off the runway and nosed into the Kennebec River.”

Contacted by email Saturday morning, Arlene Salac, of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Eastern Regional Office in New York City, said the Piper PA28 landed at the Gadabout Gaddis Airport and ran off the end of the runway and into the river at 6:28 p.m. Friday.

A link to an FAA website provided by Salac says the fixed-wing single-engine plane, manufactured in 1973, is registered to David A. Stukus, of West Kingston, Rhode Island.

A tractor was used to help remove the damaged plane from the river, according to Putnam.

Putnam responded to the crash scene with Bingham firefighters and Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the crash, as was the state Department of Environmental Protection, because fuel spilled from the plane during the crash.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

 

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