The pilot killed after a small aircraft crashed into a pond in Plymouth has been identified as Richard Carrara, 81, of Kingston, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.
The crash happened at Curlew Pond on Rocky Pond Road on Thursday, July 16, at approximately 7:40 a.m. Officials said Carrara was the only person aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Investigators said Carrara departed from Plymouth Municipal Airport at about 6:32 a.m. for a flight to Martha’s Vineyard and was attempting to return to Plymouth when the aircraft went down.
After the plane crashed into the water, Carrara was recovered with assistance from the Plymouth County Dive Team. He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth, where he later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Witnesses near Curlew Pond described seeing the aircraft upside down on the surface of the water shortly after the crash. The plane appeared to remain mostly intact, and nearby residents said people in kayaks rushed toward the aircraft in an attempt to help.
The Federal Aviation Administration and other authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine what caused the aircraft to go down.
Curlew Pond, located on the northwest side of Myles Standish State Forest, is a 46-acre pond with an average depth of 13 feet and a maximum depth of 33 feet.
The Plymouth community and Carrara’s loved ones are mourning his death as investigators continue working to learn more about the tragic incident.
