Four Family Members Injured in Plane Crash Outside Rochester

October 30, 2019

Four members of one family were injured Sunday when a small plane crashed on takeoff from an airport in upstate New York.

According to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the single-engine Beechcraft came down just after 3 p.m. as it was taking off from Le Roy Airport, about 30 miles southwest of Rochester.

The sheriff’s office said the plane crashed into an embankment and came to rest in a grassy area. Its underbody and engine compartment were significantly damaged, but the aircraft stayed upright.

The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the sheriff’s office.

Pilot John Yates was flying his wife and two children home to Canandaigua, New York. They all suffered minor injuries but climbed out of the damaged plane without help and were taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Le Roy Airport is privately owned, but available for public use – especially for any overflow from the Greater Rochester International Airport about 20 miles northeast.