Victim identified in Bass River State Forest plane crash

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WTXF) - A Coast Guard helicopter found the downed plane from Maryland was supposed to land at New Jersey's Ocean County Airport, Saturday night, but never arrived.

That Coast Guard chopper found the wreckage in the Bass River State Forest, and New Jersey State Police ground personnel got there and secured the scene.

New Jersey State Police have identified the pilot as William Lindley, 75, of Beachwood, New Jersey.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have also arrived, and they'll take over the investigation.

New Jersey State Police reported getting a call just before 11am Sunday about a possible downed aircraft at the Bass River State Forest. Troopers from Tuckerton Station immediately responded to search.

They say two passenger aircraft departed Salisbury, Maryland on Saturday. Unfortunately, the plane did not arrive as scheduled.

Then, attempts to communicate with the pilot were unsuccessful. The pilot's cellphone was tracked and Tuckerton Station personnel were advised of the possible location of the plane.