NORWICH – The Chenango County Sheriff's Office identified the pilot who was killed Sunday, after his plane crashed about a mile from the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport.

The sheriff's office identified the victim as 54-year-old Shawn McMahon.

Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. said police received a 911 call about a low-flying plane in the Town of Plymouth, and when emergency crews arrived on scene they confirmed a single fatality. The incident occurred at about 3 p.m.

“It is alleged that the pilot, 54-year-old Shawn McMahon of Binghamton, NY, was preparing to land at Norwich Airport. The plane struck a tree near a field approximately one mile west of the airport. McMahon was pronounced deceased at the scene. The investigation into the cause of the plane crash is ongoing and has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board,” reported Cutting.




The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the City of Norwich and Town of Plymouth Fire Departments and NY DEC Police.

Chenango County Director of Planning and Airport Administrator Shane Butler said, “It was a tragic incident and we send our condolences to the friends and family.”

He confirmed the plane had flown out of the Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport and local air officials were alerted of the crash right after it had occurred by emergency officials.

The National Transportation Safety Board said they were investigating the cause of the incident. They identified the aircraft as a Cessna 182. A preliminary investigation could take weeks.

Airport officials confirmed the plane was being used by a local business, Just Jump Skydiving, to transport skydivers. They said the skydivers successfully got off the plane before it crashed, but they may not have been aware of any problems at the time. Only the pilot remained in the plane.