A vintage World War II plane crashed in the Atlantic near Fire Island Sunday, killing its sole occupant, a seasoned aviator who was practicing for an upcoming air show, officials said.
Robert Baranaskas, 61, of Northport, took off from Brookhaven Calabro Airport at 1:09 p.m. in his Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, a single-engine fighter plane. Sixteen minutes later, the olive green fighter spun out of the sky, crashing into the water 300 yards off the beach at Smith Point County Park, airport and Coast Guard officials said.
Baranaskas' body had not been recovered but a recovery team continued the search Sunday night.
The victim's son, Chris Baranaskas, 28, who often performed in his own vintage fighter plane, saw his father go down, police said. On the beach, he was serving as his father's spotter - a person on the ground who communicates with the pilot and warns of any other aircraft in the area.
The victim's son, Chris Baranaskas, 28, who often performed in his own vintage fighter plane, saw his father go down, police said. On the beach, he was serving as his father's spotter - a person on the ground who communicates with the pilot and warns of any other aircraft in the area.
Mike Biedenkapp, 30, of Patchogue, was watching the fighter plane from a parking lot near the beach when he saw the plane take a nose-dive."He climbed up, then came down like a corkscrew," said Biedenkapp, who ran toward the beach when he saw the plane disappear behind the dunes.
Witnesses saw a puff of black smoke, then the plane hit the water, sending up a 20-foot splash."There was a really loud noise," said Bryan Binder, of Sayville, who was surfing about 50 yards away and paddled over to try to help.Some locals grabbed boats and hit the water. But amid the debris, they found no sign of the pilot.
The Coast Guard, the Mastic Beach Fire Department, Suffolk police marine and aviation bureaus and the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard were among the responders, said Suffolk police Det. Sgt. Thomas Groneman.A strong current and murky waters were hampering the search effort, he said.
A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration was on the scene Sunday, and the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to begin its investigation this morning, officials from those agencies said.Jim Peters, an FAA spokesman, said the aircraft was "properly registered" and "legal in what he was doing."Personal aircraft must be registered with the FAA, and registration requires a certification that the aircraft is safe to operate, Peters said.
Baranaskas and his son, who owns and flies a P-51 Mustang, together founded Warbirds Over Long Island, an organization devoted to flying and celebrating World War II-era fighter planes.A calendar on the group's Web site lists their next scheduled air show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, from April 24 to 26.Baranaskas and his son housed their planes in a hangar at Calabro Airport operated by Northeast Air Park, an aviation company based at the airport, Calabro manager Jim Falbo said.About four vintage fighter planes are housed at Calabro, he said."He was a nice guy, a well-liked pilot," Falbo said.
My heart goes out to the friends and family of Robert. As a fellow aviation professional, I know what we do for fun may seem to some as dangerous, but we know the rules, we know the risks. I may be wrong, but this is how I would want to go out...flying, alone, me and a classic fighter.
Peace and Clear Skies Robert, I raise my glass in salute of friends, both here and gone.
