Richard Rockefeller dies in small plane crash in Harrison, NY

A member of the prominent Rockefeller family was killed in a small plane crash Friday morning in Harrison, New York. Authorities say that the single-engine Piper PA-47 plane crashed at around 8 a.m.,

News 12 Staff

Jun 14, 2014, 3:14 PM

Updated 3,827 days ago

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A member of the prominent Rockefeller family was killed in a small plane crash Friday morning in Harrison, New York.
Authorities say that the single-engine Piper PA-47 plane crashed at around 8 a.m., not long after it left Westchester County Airport. Dr. Richard Rockefeller, great-grandson of the oil magnate, was piloting the plane. The 65-year-old doctor and philanthropist was the only casualty of the crash, officials say.
The plane crashed into a residential neighborhood, not far from a home with a family inside. No one on the ground was injured.
Investigators say it's still unclear whether Friday's foggy conditions contributed to the crash, but they say that visibility was poor.
Airport officials say private pilots make their own decisions about flying in sub-par conditions, and add that Rockefeller, an experienced pilot, followed all regulations before takeoff. He did not send a mayday call to indicate he was in trouble.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino says Rockefeller was in Westchester to celebrate his father's 99th birthday. He was heading back to his home in Maine when he crashed.
The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash.