JENKS TWP., Pa. – A tragic plane crash claimed the life of a man in Jenks Township, Forest County, on the evening of December 29, 2023. State Police in Marienville were alerted to the crash on Buzzard Swamp Road and later confirmed the death of the victim, identified as 59-year-old John Burley from Winber, Somerset County, Pa.
Burley was piloting a 2006 Myers Winfred STOL CH 701, a single-engine plane, and had departed from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport on the day of the crash. Flight data indicated that he had landed at Erie International Airport and was on his way back to Johnstown-Cambria County Airport when the plane went missing around 9:56 p.m.
According to ADS-B data, the plane began a descent during cruise flight and subsequently entered a steep left climb followed by a descending 360° spiral, as reported by Aviation Accidents. The National Traffic Safety Board is currently leading the investigation into the crash, and inquiries to the NTSB for further details have not been answered.
The untimely death of John Burley serves as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with aviation, and the investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the tragic accident. The community mourns the loss of a fellow aviator, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time.