Plane Crash Claims Two Lives on Massachusetts Highway
A small plane crash on a highway in Massachusetts resulted in the deaths of two individuals who seemingly took off without filing a flight plan. The owner of the aircraft stated that he was unaware of the intended purpose for the flight.
Thomas Perkins, 68, and his wife, Agatha, 66, from Middletown, Rhode Island, were discovered deceased in an Air Charity Network plane that went down onto Interstate 195 in Dartmouth during busy morning traffic on Monday. This incident coincided with gusty winds reaching up to 55 mph.
The crash severely damaged a silver Hyundai Sonata occupied by another woman, who was subsequently hospitalized, though her injuries were not life-threatening.
“It seems likely that the aircraft was trying to land at New Bedford Regional Airport, yet the pilot did not communicate with the airport regarding a flight plan or the number of passengers aboard,” said a statement from Massachusetts State Police.
The couple was en route to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in a single-engine plane that was registered with the Air Charity Network—a group associated with Angel Flight, which provides complimentary air transport for patients needing access to specialized medical care. However, representatives from the regional branches of Air Charity Network in both Massachusetts and Wisconsin confirmed that this flight had no ties to their scheduled services.
“We are currently working to identify which public interest flying organization the pilot volunteered with, but we have not reached a conclusion,” commented Brendan Sniegas, CEO and Executive Director of Angel Flight Central.
The aircraft in question belongs to Easton Aviation LLC. According to its registration, both Easton Airlines and Air Charity Network are based in Perkins’ Rhode Island hometown.
Images from the crash scene depict the burnt wreckage of the SOCATA TBM 700 surrounded by emergency responders in the median of the highway. State police reported that the plane ignited upon impact.
While the cause of the crash is still being examined, it took place amid a severe fall storm affecting the northeastern U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration has not been able to offer additional insights into the situation, attributed to the ongoing government shutdown.
