A small vintage plane crashed in Suffolk County on Long Island Wednesday afternoon, killing the pilot. Authorities said the pilot, identified as Ken Johansen, was the only one on board the small plane that crashed at 1:52 p.m. along Northcote Drive in Melville.

College student Lauren Peller was in her home with her mother when the plane went down across the street next to woods. “We heard a loud noise, almost like a tree fell on the house, and we ran down the stairs and there was smoke and the plane was on fire,” said Peller.

Johansen was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a Naval aviator, and a professional airline pilot. He leaves behind a wife and two children. – 11 Eyewitness News

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