(6-04-07)A single-engine, four-seat plane on approach to Norwood Memorial Airport crashed this morning in a heavily wooded area between Rte. 95 and Neponset Street in Canton, killing the female pilot.
Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz said the department began receiving calls around 10:20 a.m. from witnesses on I-95 reporting a plane over the woods was sputtering and may have gone down.
Norwood Police spokesman Paul Bishop said Norwood airport officials, who had been in contact with the plane upon approach, called Norwood police after losing contact with the plane.
“The plane was about to land and they lost communication,” Bishop said, who also said the pilot did not indicate there was a problem prior to losing contact with the air traffic control tower.
But Bishop said Norwood and state police did get calls from drivers on Rte. 95 claiming the plane appeared to be in trouble.
Canton, Norwood and state officials responded to the scene, and Berkowitz said the plane was located within about 20 minutes with the help of a helicopter.
Officials spent hours trying to extract the body as well as remnants of the plane in the heavily wooded area.
“The debris field is a common one in any plane crash - there are scattered pieces throughout the area,” said Berkowitz, who said searches were also made for any possible passengers.
Bishop said the area of the crash was not easily accessible.
“It is definitely hampering efforts,” said Bishop.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine Mooney M20P is registered to a woman out of Dover, Mass, but officials have not released the name of the female victim.

Info provided by TradeArmandoBenitez