Pilot Survives Civilian Aircraft Crash in Delaware County

On May 9th at approximately 12:30 pm, New York State Police and local Fire/EMS were dispatched to a civilian aircraft crash near North Montgomery Hollow Road in Roxbury, Delaware County.

James P. Leavelle, 45, of Mentor, Ohio had attempted to land on a private grass airfield due to an approaching weather system. When the pilot could not stop the plane before the end of the airfield, he attempted to lift off again, clipping trees and a power line before crashing in a field, striking more trees as it slid into the tree line.

Leavelle, a qualified pilot, was conscious but had suffered a forehead laceration. He was extricated and flown to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, where he was additionally diagnosed with a minor hairline fracture in one spinal disc in the neck area. None of the injuries were life threatening or debilitating.

The heavily-damaged 1943 North American twin seat AT-6C fixed wing single propeller aircraft was disassembled and towed to a local storage yard.

The investigation continues.