By Max Oppen
WINDHAM – The Greene County Sheriff's Office and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating a tragic plane crash that claimed the life of the pilot and one of three dogs on board. The crash occurred at approximately 6:10 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, in a remote area of Windham High Peak, one of the Catskills' 3500-foot summits.
The Cessna T210L aircraft was traveling from Maryland to Albany International Airport when it went down across from CD Lane Park. Responders faced significant challenges due to recent snowfall and the rugged terrain, finally reaching the crash site in the early morning hours of November 25.
In a statement, the Greene County Sheriff's Office confirmed the grim details:
"The Greene County Sheriff's Office is continuing their investigation into the plane crash in the Town of Windham. The pilot, who has been tentatively identified as Seuk Kim, age 49, of Springfield, VA, has been located deceased at the scene. One of the dogs was found deceased, and another alive, suffering from two broken legs. The third has not been located. Deputies, Forest Rangers, and Fire Department personnel are on the scene attempting to extricate the pilot. The dog, a lab mix puppy, was taken by Hyer Ground Rescue to the Capital District Veterinary Hospital. Investigators from the Sheriff's Office, State Police, and the FAA are also on the scene."
Windham Town Supervisor Tommy Hoyt provided pretty much the same information as the Sheriff’s Office, noting that the crash occurred around 6 p.m. "The plane was carrying three dogs and the pilot, who perished in the crash," Hoyt said. "One of the dogs also died, while another sustained multiple leg fractures. The third dog remains unaccounted for." Hoyt added that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will soon begin its investigation into the incident.
Since this news broke the third dog was found alive.
The crash site on Windham High Peak joins a somber list of plane wrecks in the Catskills, where the remains of several aircraft serve as silent reminders of past tragedies. Among the best known is the wreckage of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber that crashed in 1948 near Friday and Balsam Cap mountains. Another site, the remnants of a Piper PA-28 Cherokee from a 1983 crash, lies near the summit of Kaaterskill High Peak and is frequently visited by hikers.
Scattered across the Catskills' rugged terrain, plane crash sites have been documented on Doubletop, Overlook, Stoppel Point, South Mountain, West Kill, Ashokan High Point, Arizona Mountain, Panther, and Slide mountains, according to https://mountain-hiking.com/tag/wrecks/.
The Sheriff's Office, assisted by NYS Forest Rangers, NYS Police, Greene County Emergency Services, Windham and Hensonville Fire Departments, and the Civil Air Patrol, continue to work at the crash site. The FAA has been notified and is expected to lead the formal investigation into the cause of the crash.
As of press time, no further information was available from the State Police or Sheriff's Office, as well as the FAA and DEC Forest Rangers. The story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more details emerge.
According to Steve Kulm, spokesman for the FAA,, Local authorities discovered the wreckage of a single-engine Mooney M20 in Catskill State Park in New York on Monday, Nov. 25. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.”
Contact local authorities for the name and medical condition of the pilot.
The FAA will post a preliminary accident/incident report https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100:93:::NO::: usually the next business day.
The aircraft registration number is N58156. It can be searched https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberInquiry.
Kulm said the information they have at this time is preliminary and subject to change.
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