[T]wo people remained hospitalized Monday with injuries sustained after their small plane crashed while attempting to land on the Connecticut River.
The experimental amphibious plane crashed shortly after 12:30 p.m. Sunday near Newbury, Vermont, according to a New Hampshire State Police news release.
The incident occurred in the river, which is under New Hampshire jurisdiction.
Both the pilot and one passenger on board were injured, police said. One occupant was taken by helicopter to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with serious injuries, but is currently in stable condition. The other individual was transported by ambulance to Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, N.H.
The names of the two people involved have not been released.
A tour helicopter from the nearby Haverhill Fair, another pilot and the Wells River Fire Department responded to the scene, along with assistance from the Newbury Fire Department and Vermont State Police.
The scene unfolded near a farm on Montebello Road in Newbury.
Russell Carson, the owner of the farm, told the Valley News he saw two planes attempt to land as he raked and mowed his fields.
“One of them landed just fine, but the second one landed and immediately hit something,” he said
Carson said he saw an occupant of the aircraft ejected into the river, roughly 100 yards from his home. The wreckage of the plane floated half a mile downstream before being caught against the shore.
Investigators with the New Hampshire State Police did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Monday.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Marine Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration. Officials are encouraging anyone with information to contact Trooper Alex Peplinski at 603-227-0076 or alex.peplinski@dos.nh.gov.
