A 26-year-old pilot tragically lost her life in a plane crash shortly after releasing a group of skydivers near Niagara Falls.
Crash Details and Identity
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Melanie Georger, a New York resident, was the sole occupant of the single-engine Cessna that crashed on Saturday. The accident occurred moments after the skydivers had safely exited the aircraft.
A Pilot’s Dream
Ms. Georger was aspiring to become a commercial pilot, a goal she was close to achieving. “My beloved daughter, my best friend, and one of the two lights of my life passed away suddenly today,” her father, Paul Georger, shared in a heartfelt Facebook post. “Melanie was a pilot on the cusp of realizing her dream to fly for the airlines. She was doing what she loved, flying for a local skydiving company, when her plane crashed.”
Tributes and Memories
Angela Borczuch, a friend of Ms. Georger, also expressed her grief on Facebook. “From the day I met her, Mel made it known it was her dream to become a pilot. She achieved her goal and took to the skies.”
Skydiving Company and Eyewitness Account
The skydiving company involved, identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Skydive the Falls, chose not to comment on the incident. The company is known for its scenic flyovers of Niagara Falls before each jump.
Jeffrey Walker, a first-time jumper who was on a flight with Georger just before the crash, expressed his shock and sorrow. “Why didn’t it happen when I was up there? Why didn’t it happen when we were all on the plane?” he pondered. Describing the events as “surreal,” Walker praised Georger for her dedication and the company for their training.
Federal Investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a single-engine Cessna 208B. The plane crashed near a road in Youngstown, less than 15 miles from Niagara Falls.
The aviation community and those who knew Melanie Georger mourn her untimely death, remembering her passion for flying and her bright future as a commercial pilot.
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