Plane Crashes at Worcester Regional Airport, Connecticut Pilot Killed

A small plane crashed at Worcester Regional Airport Saturday in Massachusetts around 8 a.m., killing the aircraft's pilot.

The Worcester County District Attorney's Office confirms that 66-year-old Dr.Gary Weller, of Putnam, Connecticut, was killed in the crash.

Authorities said the single-engine Mooney M20M tried to take off, but veered right and crashed into the woods beyond the runway.

State police will be at the airport guarding the scene overnight as they wait for investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board to
show up Sunday morning.

Until then, the plane remains in this wooded area hidden from view.

"It kind of just came up over the trees and turned sideways, almost completely over, and then just plummeted straight down," said Dylon DeBoise, a contractor who was working near the airport at the time of the crash. "It was kind of like a smash, you could hear the trees coming down."

Emergency crews tried to save Dr. Weller, but he died on scene.

The pilot did not file a flight plan, so at this point, his planned destination is unknown.

"This is a difficult day for all of us at Worcester Regional Airport," Massport said in a statement. "We are very sad to hear that the pilot has passed and we wish his family and friends solace in this time. Massport will provide any assistance necessary to aid in the NTSB investigation of this morning's incident."

NECN's Michael Page reports the temperature in Worcester was 33, ceilings were ~2,700 ft. and there was a light northerly wind.

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