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Photos by Fritz Rethage -- Posted March 9, 2002

Teterboro Air Crash Kills Pilot
March 9, 2002

[Story]










Route 46 was closed



Local broadcast media covered the accident

 

 

 

 

Teterboro air crash kills pilot

A single engine Cessna 210 with a flight plan to Montauk, NY, crashed shortly after take-off about 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, killing the only occupant and pilot William A. Sonn of Manhattan.

The owner-operated plane had just taken off from the north end of the airport reaching an altitude of about 800 or 900 feet when it began to sway, wobble then veer to the left before plunging to the ground. Upon impact the plane skidded about 225 feet before it burst into flames about 100 yards from Route 46, scorching the Teterboro Airport sign.

Witnesses said that it appeared that the plane lost power and was struggling as it was circling back for a landing before it crashed just inside the airport fence and short of the runway. Motorists had attempted to reach the pilot but there were already flames and fear of an explosion.

Bob Hancock of the NTSB said the accident is under investigation.

Sonn had been a pilot for nearly 30 years and owns at least two planes. The six-passenger Cessna 210 is a high performance single-propeller that was built in 1978. These planes weigh 2,238 pounds with an altitude capability of 17,300 feet.

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Sources: NY Times, Star Ledger, Record and various broadcast media.