New Jersey Pilot Dies in Takeoff Crash at Ulster County Airport

A tiny plane crashed and caught fire Saturday afternoon after taking off from Kobelt/Walkill Airport in upstate New York. Unfortunately, the 80-year-old pilot died. The assault occurred Saturday at 2:25 p.m. near Shawangunk, Ulster County, police say.

Pilot Gerald “Jerry” Cotter was from Milford, NJ. The one-engine Glasair Super II FT crashed with him alone. Help arrived to discover the plane burning and Cotter dead. The place was empty. According to state police, the plane hit adjacent bushes. Local fire departments were called as the fire spread quickly.

First reports said the jet failed to take off and went off the runway before landing. The FAA and NYSP are assisting the NTSB in the crash investigation. The cause is being investigated: technical issues, pilot errors, or adverse weather.

Cotter was a kind, dedicated pilot, say locals. He supported community events and pilot instruction with the Experimental Aircraft Association. Pilots and friends remember him as always willing to help. Cotter worked with someone who claims he built an airplane in 2010 but was disregarded. The humble man liked safe flying and taught others.

Flight data, maintenance logs, and witness testimonies are being examined to discover what happened after Cotter’s previous trip. The runway at Kobelt is far away, and locals say gusts or crosswinds around start may have contributed, despite the calm sky. Before the incident, no distress call or aircraft failure was reported.

This catastrophic collision is notable for the driver’s age and plane type. Safety experts believe takeoff accidents are still the deadliest because pilots have little time or space to fix issues.

The officials want anyone who saw or recorded the plane before or during departure to come forward. An experienced pilot’s last flight failure is under investigation by the aviation industry and Cotter family.

Sources:
Times Union
Spectrum News
Patch
WNYT