Investigators: Spring Township pilot overshot runway in New Jersey accident
Associated Press
Reading Eagle - September 1, 2009

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Small plane crashed last month at Teterboro Airport

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said a Spring Township pilot overshot a runway and crashed into a sign during an attempted landing at Teterboro Airport in northern New Jersey last month.

The NTSB has released a preliminary report of the Aug. 21 accident. Witnesses said the plane, piloted by George Maddox, flew over the runway at low altitude before overshooting it and striking a sign and tree before bursting into flames.

Air traffic controllers said all communication with the aircraft were routine before the crash, and no emergency was declared by the pilot or co-pilot, investigators reported.

Maddox, 54, and co-pilot Sanil Gopinath, 42, of Laurel, Md., walked away from the wreckage and were found by police at a bus stop near the Teterboro airport about 3 a.m.

Authorities said Maddox, who suffered burns over 20 percent to 30 percent of his body and a broken wrist, was taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, N.J., where he was initially listed in critical condition. Gopinath also was seriously injured.

Updates on their conditions were unavailable Monday.

Maddox and Gopinath were carrying blood specimens for Quest Diagnostics Inc. when the crash occurred.

The aircraft took off from Reading Regional Airport at 10:44 p.m. on Aug. 20 and flew to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pottstown before heading to Teterboro to deliver the samples to a Quest laboratory near the airport.

Investigators said they have not been able to talk to Maddox or Gopinath because of their injuries.