UPDATED: Plane Crash Near Easton Under Investigation
UPDATED – 6:30pm – The deceased victim is identified as 56 year old Robert Eugene Merlini of Annapolis. Merlini was the pilot, and sole occupant of a twin engine Cessna that crashed in the Tred Avon River this morning.
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UPDATED – 2:30pm – Maryland State Police are investigating a plane crash just after 9:30 Tuesday morning that claimed the life of one person. The victim was recovered from the Tred Avon River where EMS personnel declared the victim deceased. The victim will be taken to the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsy. Investigation shows the twin-engine Cessna took off shortly before 9am from Tipton Airport at Fort Meade before crashing in the river. Police believe the pilot was headed towards Easton Airport when the crash occurred. Multiple State and County emergency personnel assisted in the recovery and investigation, which is continuing. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
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UPDATED – 2pm – FAA Statement
This information is preliminary and subject to change.
A twin-engine Cessna 402 crashed into the water near Easton, Maryland around 9:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, July 16, after the pilot reported engine failure. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.
- Contact local authorities for the pilot’s name and medical condition.
- The FAA will post a preliminary accident/incident report here usually the next business day.
- After investigators verify the aircraft registration number (N-number), it can be searched here.
Maryland State Police are also investigating
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11:15AM – A diver is in the water – reports that a recovery has been made.
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There is a report of a plane crash in Talbot County in the area of Travelers Rest Circle. Reports that the plane went down in the Tred Avon River – just after 9:30am. Emergency personnel have found plane – boats and divers are in the water with additional personnel coming from nearby counties.
Unknown how many on the plane.
The FAA and NTSB have been notified.
This is a developing story – information will be posted as it becomes available.
