Pilot killed in Niagara County small plane crash identified

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A female pilot is dead after a small plane crashed Saturday just east of Old Fort Niagara in the Town of Porter, a Niagara County Sheriff’s Office official confirmed to WIVB News 4.

The crash took place just before noon off of the Niagara Scenic Parkway. The plane appeared to crash into the side of a hill leading up to the parkway’s southbound lanes.

The pilot killed in the crash was identified Sunday as 26-year-old Melanie Georger of the Town of Tonawanda.

Officials confirmed the single-engine plane was owned by Skydive the Falls. The plane released all divers and was heading back to land when it crashed, officials said.

Niagara Scenic Parkway South is closed at Fort Niagara State Park due to the crash. Roadway closures were anticipated to last the remainder of Saturday and have continued into Sunday, according to NITTEC.

Officials said the crash was reported to have started a brush fire around the crash site, which was extinguished by the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Company.

A notification was made to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board and the scene will be secured until a complete investigation can be performed, the sheriff’s office said.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

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