Tragedy Near Boston: Small Plane Crash Kills One, Critically Injures Another Near Beverly Regional Airport

A small plane crash near a Massachusetts airport has left one man dead and another in critical condition after a dramatic descent on a quiet holiday morning.

The Mooney M20, a fixed-wing, four-seat aircraft, went down just before 8:45 a.m. Thursday on Sam Fonzo Drive, a street adjacent to Beverly Regional Airport, roughly 25 miles north of downtown Boston.

According to the Beverly Police and Fire Departments, the aircraft crashed under unclear circumstances, with both the pilot and passenger onboard. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Their identities have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Witnesses Recall Puff of Smoke, Then Chaos

Locals reported seeing the plane tumbling out of the sky moments after a loud noise and a puff of smoke.

“I was driving to work when I saw it falling. It wasn’t spiraling—just dropping,” said one witness who declined to be named. “Then I heard a crash and saw smoke. It was terrifying.”

Authorities said that, fortunately, no one on the ground was injured, as many businesses in the area were closed for the Juneteenth holiday. The aircraft narrowly missed a commercial building and came to rest against a utility pole, with its nose partially crumpled and its fuselage mangled.

Photos from the scene showed emergency responders—including firefighters, police, and federal investigators—surrounding the charred wreckage, which was scattered across a short stretch of road.

FAA and NTSB Launch Joint Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now leading the investigation into what caused the crash.

“The preliminary information we have is that the plane crashed under unknown circumstances,” an NTSB spokesperson said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “Once on site, our investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The plane will be transported to a secure facility for further evaluation.”

An NTSB preliminary report is expected within the next two weeks, though a final determination of the crash’s cause could take several months.

The FAA confirmed that the plane had departed from Beverly Regional Airport and was en route to Ticonderoga Municipal Airport in upstate New York, a small facility located approximately 100 miles north of Albany.

Beverly Police: “We Got Lucky It Wasn’t Worse”

Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur told local media that the timing of the crash likely prevented a larger tragedy.

“It’s a holiday. There’s not a lot of businesses open right now, thankfully,” he said during a live interview with WBZ-TV. “We’ll be going through surveillance footage when businesses reopen and doing follow-ups throughout Friday.”

He added that while the crash area is typically busy on weekday mornings, the reduced traffic likely prevented additional injuries or damage.

“We got lucky, as strange as that sounds. This could’ve been so much worse.”

Community in Shock

The crash has shaken the quiet coastal community of Beverly, a Boston suburb with a population of about 42,000. Sam Fonzo Drive, where the crash occurred, is lined with office buildings and light industrial facilities.

“It’s just really sad,” said Sarah Greene, an employee at a business across the street from the crash site. “We come to work here every day. You don’t expect to see something like this happen so close to home.”

Local businesses remained closed throughout the day as the site was cordoned off with yellow police tape. Utility workers were also seen assessing damage to nearby power lines and poles.

Aviation Experts: Engine Failure Possible

Aviation experts reviewing early witness reports and photographs suggested the crash might have been due to an engine failure, though no official cause has been determined.

“A puff of smoke followed by a steep descent can often indicate engine failure or mechanical malfunction,” said Jonathan Fields, an aviation safety consultant and former pilot. “But we’ll need to wait for NTSB’s findings to understand exactly what went wrong.”

Mooney aircraft are high-performance, single-engine planes popular among private pilots for their speed and efficiency. However, like any small aircraft, they are vulnerable to sudden mechanical issues, particularly during takeoff and climb-out—the most dangerous phases of flight.

Recent History of Aviation Incidents

This tragic crash comes just weeks after five people were killed in Finland when two helicopters collided mid-flight. That incident, which also involved aircraft flying to an aviation event, is still under investigation.

It also follows a national rise in small aircraft accidents over the past year, as more private pilots take to the skies amid post-pandemic demand for flexible travel options.

The NTSB has urged pilots and aircraft owners to prioritize routine maintenance and safety checks, noting a recent uptick in non-commercial aviation accidents, many of them involving older planes or insufficiently trained pilots.

What Happens Next

Investigators are now focused on collecting black box data, if available, and interviewing air traffic controllers, potential witnesses, and the surviving passenger, once his condition stabilizes.

Meanwhile, Beverly residents are mourning the loss of a life and hoping for the recovery of the second victim.

“We’re a close-knit town,” said Beverly Mayor Christine Hoyt in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. We’re grateful to our first responders for their swift action and to the FAA and NTSB for their commitment to finding answers.”