NTSB leading plane crash investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a plane crash that occurred Saturday in the River Region.

Per the Federal Aviation Administration, “A single-engine Cessna 208B crashed near Lake Road in Youngstown, New York, around 12:50 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 20. The pilot, and only person on board, was conducting parachute operations. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.”

NTSB noted, “Under federal law, the NTSB is responsible for investigating and determining the probable cause of every civil aviation accident in the United States (and certain public use aircraft, such as those owned by state and municipal governments). The NTSB also investigates accidents in the other modes of transportation such as rail, highway, marine and pipeline.

“The NTSB is an independent federal agency and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation or any of its modal agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is automatically a party to all NTSB aviation investigations.”

On July 20, at approximately 11:40 a.m. the Niagara County Sheriff's Office communications center began receiving 911 calls reporting a plane crash on the Niagara Scenic Parkway northeast of Fort Niagara State Park. The crash was also reported to have started a brush fire around the crash site. Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputies, New York State Troopers, Town of Lewiston Police and New York State Park Police officers responded to the scene. The Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. was also on scene to extinguish the fires.

The pilot was identified as Melanie Georger, age 26, from the Town of Tonawanda. She was allegedly flying on behalf of Skydive the Falls. The NCSO reported the aircraft had released all divers and was heading back to land when it crashed. The pilot was the only person onboard at the time of the crash and was killed.

Notification was made to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The scene was immediately secured pending investigation.

Information courtesy of the FAA, NTSB and Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.