12:00PM EST: [ALL UPDATES BELOW] Bennington, Vermont – The wreckage of a small plane that crashed Sunday evening was found on Whipstock Mountain around 9:15 a.m. Monday morning. The male pilot, a Frum Monsey resident appeared to be deceased R”L. [The name of the Niftar will be published pending proper notification.]
Sources tell YWN that the pilot was flying a Cessna 172 to Vermont, and departed Sunday from Greenwood Lake Airport in Milford, N.J., for what was expected to be two-hour flight. An FAA official speaking to the AP said he did not know what time the plane took off.
The FAA is investigating the crash, and are being assisted by local police.
Police had resumed searching for the plane that several witnesses said crashed Sunday evening near the William H. Morse airport.
Local and state authorities called off the search around 12:30 a.m. Monday, however, after unsuccessful attempts to find the plane with the assistance of a New York State Police helicopter.
Several eye witnesses reported seeing an airplane crash near the airport. Emergency personnel responded around 7:20 p.m. and set up a command post on Whipstock Road before relocating to the airport. Bennington Police Lt. Paul Doucette said one 911 call came from a female who said the plane circle four times before losing power. She said “it sounded like thunder” as the plane went down.
Police believe the plane may have been circling the airport trying to land the plane from the west side, rather than from the east. Such a move would be “nearly impossible,” according to police.
A beacon that usually emits a circling light from the highest point on Whipstock Mountain behind the airport stopped working shortly before the reported crash, according to police. They said it is unclear if that may have played a role.
UPDATE 2:00PM EST: The body of the pilot, Dr. Chaim Weiss Z”L, 58, has been removed from the site, according to Bennington Police Chief Richard Gauthier. Weiss, who was married, told his family Sunday that he was going for a short flight, Gauthier said. The family said they did not know why Weiss would have flown to Vermont.
Dr. Weiss was a prominent Psychiatrist, and worked for the Kiryas Joel School District.
Levaya information will be posted as soon as it becomes available to us.
(Dov Gordon – YWN-32 / YWN-008 / Bennington Banner)
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Burech Dayen Huemes
He was a prominent Orthodox doctor from Monsey.
BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer http://www.timesunion.com
Last updated: 1:23 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2009
BENNINGTON, Vt. — Rescuers at 9:15 this morning reached a small plane that crashed and claimed the life of the pilot about a mile and a half west of the William H. Morse State Airport.
The body of the pilot, Chaim Weiss, 58, of West Milford, N.J., has been removed from the site, according to Bennington Police Chief Richard Gauthier. Weiss, who was married, told his family Sunday that he was going for a short flight, Gauthier said. The family said they did not know why Weiss would have flown to Vermont.
The pilot’s errors include taking the wrong approach to the airport, in the dark and turning the wrong way, sending the plane into the mountain, Gauthier said.
He said investigators do not know how long Weiss has been flying or how much experience he had. An autopsy will be performed to check for medical problems.
The FAA will leave the plane in the woods for several days as the investigation continues.
Guy Rouelle, lead investigator for the Vermont Transportation Authority, said witnesses on Sunday night reported a loud sound of a crash. No one else was aboard the four-seat Cessna 172, he said.
The plane is owned by Sky Training of West Milford, N.J. A woman who answered the phone at Sky Training did not identify herself and referred all questions to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash was on Whipstock Mountain in an area of dense vegetation below the summit, said Joe Hayes, chief of the Bennington Rural Fire Department.
The plane is near an area known as “Guitar Patch,” for the distinctive pine tree-filled feature on the side of the mountain, according to a neighbor.
Roland Smith, who heard the crash from his nearby property, said he was able to reach the plane this morning. He said it was wrapped around a tree on state land and the pilot was clearly dead.
Eric Anderson contributed to this report.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=857399#ixzz0V44a2Ut9
Does anyone know the name of his wife?
baruch dayan emet
I knew him personally. I just saw him in Israel on Succot, and Im devestated. He was an outstanding frum snd sensitive mental health professional, who had a strong, positive impact on all those who came in contact with him, especially his clients. Chaval al devadin!
Baruch Dayan HaEmes
The wife’s name is Joyce. Rabbi/Dr. Chaim Weiss (zecher tzadik l’bracha) was an outstanding member of our Wesley Hills community, he will surely be missed by all of us how had the good fortune of having met him, as well as the Monroe community where he worked. May his family know of no more sorrows.
“Hamakom Yenacheim et-chem b’toch she-ar aveili Tzion v’Yerushalayim”
May the family be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim
I have known Dr. Weiss Z”L almost my entire life and hearing of this awful tragedy devastated me, as it should everyone else. He was truly a great Jew and person, strongly impacting everyone he knew, making everyone he saw happy, and making all of his clients better people. I strongly thank him for all he has done for everyone and send condolences to his family. Baruch Dayan Emes.
he was also a president of the Young Israel of NEw Haven, when he lived there.
his in laws are from bridgeport ct. joe and elsie breiner a close friend of family. alex breiner a prominent frum lawyer in bridgeport is his brother in law. bde may hashem help that this family have a nechama.
The funeral for Rabbi Dr. Chaim Weiss z”l will take place at 6:00 PM this evening at Ateres Rosh (Rabbi Berg’s shul). 16 Charlotte Drive, Wesley Hills, NY.
May Hashem comfort the Weiss family and bring them besurot tovot in the near future.
The Levaya is scheduled for 6:00 PM tonite at Beis Medrash Ateres Rosh, 16 Charlotte in Wesley Hills. We should only share in simchas.
jjlkwd,
Perhaps you can help me. Is the niftar’s wife ever called by a name other than the one stated in the comments? Do you know if she ever taught in a Brooklyn school while boarding/renting in Brooklyn before she got married?
boruch dayan hoemess
if a lady in monsey/spring valley (ny) needs ride to/from menachem avel visit at weiss home, pls call tikvah at 845-300-4565; try to text if you can as mail box may be full and this is better for me anyway