The pilot killed in the Youngstown, NY plane crash has been identified as 26-year-old Melanie Georger. Georger, who was born and raised in the Town of Tonawanda, attended Kenmore East and obtained a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University at Buffalo.
On July 20, 2024, at approximately 1140hrs, The Niagara County Sheriff's Communications Center began receiving 911 calls reporting a plane crash on the Niagara Scenic Parkway northeast of the Fort Niagara State Park in Lewiston. The crash was also reported to have started a brush fire around the crash site. Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies, NYS Troopers, Town of Lewiston Police and NYS Park Patrol responded to the scene.
The Youngstown Volunteer Fire Company was also on scene to extinguish the fires. The initial investigation revealed that an airplane from Skydive the Falls had released all divers and was heading back when it crashed. There was only one person on board at the time of the crash and was killed.
Notification was made to the Federal Aviation Administration and The National Transportation Safety Board, the scene will be secured until a complete investigation can be performed.