VICTIMS OF CAROLINE COUNTY PLANE CRASH IDENTIFIED

(RIDGELY, MD) – Maryland State Police and federal authorities have identified the three people on board a small plane that crashed tonight.

The three are identified as Austen F. Ehly, 24, of Pasadena, Md., who is believed to have been the pilot, and his two passengers, Sean C. Moran, 24, of Easton, Md., and Kevin M. Warnke, 23, of Alexandria, Va. Two Delaware State Police helicopters flew Ehly and Warnke to Christiana Hospital in Delaware. A Maryland State Police helicopter flew Moran to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

The crash of the small single-engine Piper airplane occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. today at the Ridgely Airport on Race Track Road, in Ridgely, Md. Witnesses reported the plane appeared to be coming in for a landing when it crashed in a field on airport property, just short of the runway. The plane came to rest on its right side, with both wings broken off. There was no fire.

A passerby reportedly pulled one victim from the aircraft. Responding fire department personnel rescued the other two and coordinated the helicopter responses.

A Federal Aviation Administration investigator is on the scene and will be investigating the cause of the crash. Calls for the FAA should be directed to 718-553-3100.