An investigation revealed that damage to the front landing gear caused a small plane to crash on the runway at the Tangier Airport at approximately 1:05p.m. on Sept. 26.
According to 1st Sgt. B. E. Jeff Jones, Virginia State Police Area Commander, the nose of the plane bounced during the landing and caused the front landing gear to break. The pilot and co-pilot, Jamison Simpson, 49, of Waldorf, Maryland and Leonard Baker, 64, of Washington, D.C., have over 10 years of aviation experience and were not injured in the crash.
Jones and Trooper Cameron Richardson of the Virginia State Police along with Tangier Fire and Rescue responded to the scene of the crash.
The runway was cleared and reopened to air traffic at approximately 3 p.m.
According to Jones, the assistance provided by the Accomack Sheriff's Office and the addition of the sheriff's office boat were invaluable in reducing the response time. The state police office received the call and were able to arrive on the scene within 50 minutes.
"I would like to share my sincere appreciation to Sheriff Todd Godwin, Sergeant David Smullin, Deputy Tom Willet of the Accomack Sheriff’s Office for transporting Trooper Richardson and I to the scene in the Sheriff’s Office boat," said Jones.
