Richard Rockefeller Dies in Small Plane Crash in Harrison

The Journal News is reporting that Richard Rockefeller, the 64 year-old son of banker David Rockefeller died Friday morning when the single engine plane he was flying crashed into trees on Cottage Avenue in Purchase. He took off in his Piper Meridian single engine turbo prop plane from Westchester Airport early this morning and crashed at 8:08 am. No one else was on the plane. Rockefeller was a doctor and an experienced pilot and was scheduled to fly to Portland, Maine presumably to return home to Falmouth, Maine. At the time of the accident the weather was foggy and rainy.

Until 2000 Dr. Rockefeller practiced medicine as a family doctor in Falmouth and then started to work on global health causes. He was married and had two grown children. According to family spokesman Fraser Seitel, Richard Rockefeller, who was a grandson of John D. Rockefeller, had dinner with father David on Thursday night to celebrate his father's 99th birthday.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and Westchester Airport Manager Peter Scherrer, as well as public safety officials from Westchester County and the Town of Harrison have planned a press conference at 12:30 pm on Friday to answer questions about the crash.

Read more here: