FAA and NTSB Investigating Plane Crash near Cumberland

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a plane crash in Cumberland. According to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday June 8th emergency crews were called out to the area of Bierman Drive for a reported motorcycle crash. Officials learned that several children playing in the area heard a subject yelling for help. The children and their parents located an injured man in the wood line prompting a call to emergency officials. It was later learned that 76 year old Ronald Garrison of Great Cacapon, WV was flying an experimental aircraft when for unknown reasons the plane crash. Garrison was taken to UPMC Western MD for treatment. At that time units on the scene began to search the area for the aircraft. Approximately 35 minutes later the plane was located crashed in the tree line in the area of Canal Road, Cumberland, MD. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the search by MSP Aviation Trooper 5, Bowling Green VFD, District 16 VFD, and the Cumberland Civil Air Patrol. Deputies currently remain on the scene for security.   According to the FAA the single-engine Zodiac 601 XL crashed in a wooded area near Route 51 south of Cumberland, Md., at 4:00 p.m. local time yesterday. The pilot was the only person on board.