Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Richard Rockefeller, a Doctor, Killed in Small Plane Crash in Purchase

Update at 11:39 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014: Richard Rockefeller, a medical doctor and son of banker and philanthropist David Rockefeller, has been confirmed as the pilot who was killed in the single-engine plane crash Friday morning near Westchester County Airport, according to The Journal News.

"It's a terrible tragedy," said Fraser Seitel, Rockefeller family spokesperson, told The Journal News. "The family is in shock. Richard was a wonderful and cherished member of the family. He was an experienced pilot. He was a medical doctor, and it's horribly sad."

Richard was 64 years old and celebrated his father's 99th birthday with family on Thursday, according to the report.

Click here to view Richard Rockefeller's biography page on the Rockefeller Brothers Fund website.

Update at 10:58 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014: 
Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will oversee the plane investigation, according to the airport.

A press conference has been scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Westchester County Executive's office. 

Update at 9:58 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014: 
The pilot is believed to have been the only person on the plane and was the person killed, according to News 12 Westchester.

Update at 9:46 a.m. Friday, June 13, 2014:
The plane was registered to Richard Rockefeller out of Falmouth, Maine, and was en route to Portland, Maine, according to The Journal News.

Besides the fatality, no other injuries were reported.

Westchester County Airport was temporarily closed as of 9:30 a.m. 

Original story: One person was killed Friday morning when a small plane that took off from Westchester County Airport crashed in Purchase, according to The Journal News.

The plane, a Piper Meridian, took off at about 8:15 a.m. and crashed roughly 10 minutes later on Cottage Avenue.

Details on the number of people onboard and where the plane was headed were not yet available. Piper Meridians seat six.

Patch will publish more details as they become available.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.