Plainly, it's still a mystery

DINGMAN — The story of the airplane with no pilot that crash landed in the trees near Gold Key Lake remained a mystery this week. “There is no update or any information on the plane available. It is in the hands of the FAA (Federal Aviation Agency,” a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson said today. Public Affairs Duty Officer, Terry Williams of the National Transportation Safety Board has not returned calls regarding the status of the federal investigation. According to authorities, the aircraft owner Robert J. Stephanoff of Piscataway, N.J. allegedly piloted the plane. Stephanoff has been unavailable and could not be reached for comment by the Courier. On Monday May 18 at about 5 p.m., the single engine Piper Cherokee ran out of fuel according to authorities. The plan remains perched atop the trees in the private 980 home community on Log Tavern Road. The plane was not heard or seen by any Gold Key residents when it crashed and wasn’t discovered until the next day. Dingman Township firefighters were alerted the next morning and climbed an extension ladder about 30 feet to reach the plane to check for survivors or injured persons. The plane was found to have no pilot or passengers. Anglin Aircraft Recovery Services of Clayton, Delaware is expecting to harness the plane and have it air lifted by helicopter to a safe area in Gold Key on Saturday. The plane will be dismantled and hauled away on a flat bed trailer to an undisclosed location.