Cropduster Crashes near Berlin; Pilot, Bob Bunting, Survives!
Maryland State Police are investigating a small airplane crash that occurred Sunday afternoon in Worcester County.
Shortly after 2:40 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack received notification of a plane crash in a cornfield off Tall Timber Road near Makin Lane in Berlin. According to a preliminary investigation, the pilot, Robert Bunting, 62, of Berlin, told troopers that he had engine trouble and landed his plane in the field.
His family has operated Ocean Aerial Ads, the popular banner towing airplane service seen along the Delmarva shore, for about 35 years. He started crop-dusting in 1980.
When troopers arrived, the plane, a 1976 Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G164B cropduster was fully engulfed in flames (shown is actual photo). Bunting, who owned the aircraft, was checked by EMS personnel from the Berlin Fire Company on the scene and released.
The plane was not carrying any chemicals on board at the time of the crash. The Berlin Fire Company worked to extinguish the fire. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
No injuries were reported on the ground as a result of the crash. The incident remains under investigation.
