[JYO] Small Plane crashes in Potomac River

"Small plane crashes in Potomac River"
(courtesy Loudoun Times Mirror)
By Jon Echtenkamp 
10/06/2003



Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Michael J. Kacmarcik 
A single-engine plane crashed into the Potomac River Monday at about 2:30 
p.m. near the shoreline by the Lowes Island golf course. 


The pilot was either rescued by a fisherman in a boat or swam to the Virginia 
shore and was not seriously injured, authorities said. He was the only 
occupant of the plane.

Several people at the Algonkian Regional Park boat landing saw the plane 
flying low over the river before it crashed about two miles farther downstream.

"It was flying not much higher than the top of the trees," said Viktoria 
Bodnar, of Sterling. "I heard something really loud that sounded strange; I 
noticed it was really loud."

The plane was resting in several feet of water about 50 feet from the 
Virginia shore where a line of shallow rapids traverses the river. Only the 
tail and 
canopy were visible above the water. The plane was not leaking fuel or posing 
any environmental hazards, authorities said.

The crash will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. 
Fire and rescue workers from Maryland and Virginia responded to the scene in 
boats, and a Fairfax County Police helicopter that responded was hovering 
overhead.

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