Plane Crash Leads to Charges of Endangerment Against Pilot

WALLKILL, N.Y. —  A small-plane pilot has been charged with reckless endangerment for parachuting out of his stalled aircraft, which crashed 35 feet from a house, authorities said.

Josh Wallace, 40, bailed out of his Cessna 150 last Sunday as it approached Kobelt Airport, 60 miles north of New York City. Wallace, an experienced sky diver and a licensed pilot since October, was flying from Florida to his hometown of Montreal.

The plane came down in the yard of Ted and Mary Garrison, missing their home by about 35 feet. It landed within 30 feet of Ted Garrison, who was gardening.

Wallace told authorities that he knew one wing tip had been damaged before he flew the plane, according to Ulster County Sheriff Michael LaPaglia. “The person flew this plane knowing full well the plane was in no condition to be flown,” LaPaglia said.

Authorities also said Wallace’s use of a parachute while flying had a bearing on the case.

Wallace told authorities that he attempted to aim the plane away from homes and toward trees before jumping, and that he did not trust his ability to land the craft in Sunday’s high winds.

If convicted, Wallace could be sentenced to seven years in prison.