At approx. 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 27, the Burlington Airport tower notified the Vermont State Police of a possible aircraft crash near the Basin Harbor Airport, Ferrisburgh, Vt. Upon arrival, police discovered that a 1958 Piper “Tri-Pacer” fixed wing prop-plane had made and emergency landing in a field near the Basin Harbor Airport.
The pilot, Roger Teese age 73 from Charlotte, Vt., and his wife (the passenger) were not injured as a result of the field landing.
Teese advised he had fueled his plane at the Middlebury Airport and was en route to Basin Harbor. He stated he was nearing the airport when air began rushing into the cockpit of the plane. Reportedly the fabric roof over top of the windshield had become unsecured and was torn from its mounting location.
According to Teese, this damage to the empennage caused the plane to “porpoise” and to limit his control of the aircraft. Teese stated that although he intended to land at the Basin Harbor Airport he was unable to do so and subsequently, safely landed the plane in a nearby field.
Other than the torn roof fabric, the Piper aircraft did not appear to be damaged and neither Teese nor his wife was injured in the incident. First Responders from the Vergennes Fire Department, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, the Addison County Sheriff’s Department, Vergennes Police Department and the State Police Responded to the scene to assist.
This incident remains under investigation.
