Sun, Jun 04, 2006
Plane Registered To Evangelist May Have Hit Approach Light
A Lear 35 registered to religious televangelist Pat Robertson
went down in Long Island Sound Friday, a half-mile short of the
runway at Groton-New London Airport. The three passengers onboard
the plane escaped without serious injury, but both of the
aircraft's pilots were killed.
A spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Transportation
said the aircraft may have hit an approach light mounted in a
cove near the airport. Witnesses reported heavy fog at the time of
the accident.
Robertson was not onboard the aircraft, which was registered to
Robertson Asset Management and not to his ministry, the Christian
Broadcast Network. A spokeswoman for CBN told the Associated Press
that Robertson often rented out the aircraft as he seldom used
it.
"We're still trying to
figure out who was on the plane," said Angell Vasko. "It's not Dr.
Robertson or (anyone) related to CBN or related to Dr. Robertson's
individual businesses."
The FAA shows one aircraft registered to Robertson Asset
Management, a 1980 Lear 35A (file photo of type, right), N-number
N182K. The aircraft may have been chartered by International Jet
Charter of Norfolk, VA.
The Coast Guard reports the jet took off from Norfolk, VA and
stopped in Atlantic City, NJ to drop off two passengers before
continuing onto Connecticut.
The identities of the pilots lost have not been released. Little
is known of the three survivors, other than all three are men in
their 50s, according to the AP.
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