80-Year-Old Pilot Killed After Two Gliders Collide Mid-Air Near Great Sacandaga Lake

A peaceful glider flight over upstate New York turned deadly Friday afternoon when two aircraft collided in mid-air near Great Sacandaga Lake, killing one experienced pilot.

The collision occurred at approximately 2:26 p.m. on September 18 near Wheeler Road in Edinburg, Saratoga County, northwest of Great Sacandaga Lake, according to New York State Police. The two aircraft involved were a Schleicher ASW-24 and a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B.

Following the collision, the Schleicher ASW-24 was able to reach Plateau Sky Ranch Airport and land safely. Its pilot was not injured, although the aircraft sustained damage to its front section. The pilot was reportedly shaken but able to assist with efforts to locate the other aircraft.

The Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B, however, lost control after the collision and crashed into heavily wooded terrain. The pilot was the aircraft’s only occupant and was later found dead at the crash site. Debris was discovered in a remote area off Sand Lake Road after authorities conducted an extensive search lasting several hours.

On September 20, authorities identified the victim as James L. Morzillo, 80, of Saratoga Springs. FAA records indicate that Morzillo was a certified pilot as well as a flight instructor and ground instructor.

Investigators said Morzillo had been flying as part of a group of gliders traveling toward Piesco Airport in Hamilton County. The group had been assisted into the air by an engine-powered aircraft that departed from Saratoga County Airport.

Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including New York State Police, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency personnel. A State Police helicopter also assisted in the search for the missing glider.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the collision. The NTSB expects to issue a preliminary report within about a month, while a final determination of the probable cause could take 12 to 24 months.

For now, investigators have not announced what caused the two gliders to collide. The tragedy has left the local aviation community mourning Morzillo, an experienced pilot and instructor who died while participating in a group flight over the Adirondack region.

Source: NY Post