EASTON, Md. — Emergency rescue crews responded to the area of the Tred Avon River in Easton for a small plane crash Tuesday morning.
The pilot, identified as 56-year-old Robert Eugene Merlini from Annapolis, has since died. Merlini was the only person onboard when the small plane crashed in the Tred Avon River.
Talbot County Sheriff's Office deputies and Talbot County Fire and EMS officials were called to the area of 6800 Travelers Rest Circle around 9:30 a.m. Maryland State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police also responded to the scene of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board has also been notified.
Sky9 was over the scene on Tuesday. Emergency crews could be seen searching the water.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported the pilot of the Cessna 402 crashed after reporting engine failure. Crews pulled Merlini's body from the water Tuesday afternoon.
The University of Maryland's Regional Atmospheric Measurement Modeling and Prediction Program said the school was using the plane for atmospheric research flights.
The twin-engine Cessna 402 was a research plane on a flight to pick up at least one technician for an air pollution monitoring mission. The data was going to the Maryland Department of the Environment.
Maryland’s Department of Environment issued a statement after Tuesday’s crash, “A flight had been planned today as a continuation of our usual ozone season research, but particularly meant to gain a better understanding of the behavior of ozone and other pollutants during extreme heat,” the statement said.
The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.