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Pilot in training’s plane goes down in Chautauqua County

Photo provided by Jamie King A plane crashed in the backyard of a home on Baker Street Extension in the town of Harmony.

HARMONY — A plane that was being operated by a pilot in training went down in Chautauqua County, injuring both him and his instructor.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the small plane went down Thursday night in the backyard of a home on Baker Street Extension in the town of Harmony.

The crash occurred a little after 11 p.m. at the home of Jamie King, who said her husband heard a “loud noise” and woke her up.

“We looked in the backyard (and) saw a man walking in the backyard,” King told The Post-Journal. “He told us his plane crashed and asked to call 911.”

King said both occupants of the plane were men and noted they were “walking and talking” after the crash. The severity of their injuries wasn’t immediately known, though two medical helicopters were requested.

Several first responders, including firefighters from Panama, were at the scene into the early hours of Friday.

King shared photos of her backyard that showed the plane heavily damaged in a wooded area. She said it landed about 60 feet from her home.

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said the single engine plane occupied by two subjects were conducting training exercises when it lost power. As a result of the plane losing power, it crashed into a wooded area.

Both occupants were able to self extricate. Lawrence Zupon, 63 of Ohio was operating the plane under the supervision of his instructor Daniel Rossi, 25, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio. They were both treated at the scene by Ashville and Panama fire departments along with Chautauqua County EMS. Both subjects were then transported to Hamot Medical Center for further treatment of their injuries.

The accident remains under investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Lakewood-Busti Police Department and New York State Police also assisted.

Staff reporter Gregory Bacon contributed to this article.

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