Emergency crews responded to a twin-engine plane crash early Thursday morning, July 2, 2026, just west of the City of Lancaster.
The incident was reported shortly before 1:00 a.m. in a heavily wooded area off Brooklyn Avenue, near its intersection with Springdale Road and behind the Zero Waste Recycling facility at 511 Brooklyn Avenue. According to authorities, the aircraft tore through trees before coming to a rest on a hillside, where it subsequently caught fire.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Lancaster County Fire Rescue, and Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services all mobilized to the scene.
First responders located two male occupants, both believed to be pilots, near the burning wreckage. While both men were responsive when authorities arrived, they suffered serious burns. Emergency personnel arranged for both victims to be airlifted to regional medical facilities for treatment. Their current medical conditions have not been released.
The aircraft involved has been identified as a twin-engine Beechcraft owned by North Carolina-based Pressley Aviation. While the plane’s planned destination remains unknown, officials confirmed that the pilot reported engine failure shortly before the aircraft went down. Initial reports indicate that efforts to divert the plane for an emergency landing were unsuccessful.
Representatives from the FAA and NTSB will be viewing the crash site to take over the primary investigation. Local law enforcement officers have secured the perimeter and will continue to provide assistance to the federal investigators as needed.
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