SOUTH PORTLAND — The vintage plane that crashed into the water off Fort Williams on Sunday was towed to South Port Marine this afternoon, where it was removed from the water.

Sea Tow, which provides non-emergency assistance on the water, began towing the boat to South Portland marina this morning. Warner Ogden, owner of Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast, said they were near Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse at about 2:30 p.m.

Additional Photos

The Stinson plane involved in Sunday's fatal crash at Fort Williams Park is lifted onto the dock at South Port Marine in South Portland on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
The Stinson plane involved in Sunday's fatal crash at Fort Williams Park is lifted onto the dock at South Port Marine in South Portland on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.
Dr. Louis Hanson is shown being interviewed about his 1946 Stinson Voyager for a documentary about a safety system tested on the plane in which the wings separated from the fuselage and parachutes carried all three pieces to earth.
Dr. Louis Hanson is shown being interviewed about his 1946 Stinson Voyager for a documentary about a safety system tested on the plane in which the wings separated from the fuselage and parachutes carried all three pieces to earth. Courtesy photo
Dr. Louis Hanson’s 1946 Stinson Voyager sinks off Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth on Sunday shortly after crashing into the ocean. Hanson, of Durham, can be seen in the water in front of the plane before he lost consciousness.
Dr. Louis Hanson’s 1946 Stinson Voyager sinks off Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth on Sunday shortly after crashing into the ocean. Hanson, of Durham, can be seen in the water in front of the plane before he lost consciousness. MacKenzie Bowker photo

Related Headlines

Ogden said Sea Tow was removing the plane at the request of an insurance company, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the cause of the crash that killed 60-year-old Dr. Louis Hanson of Durham, the plane’s only occupant at the time.

Now that it has been removed from the water, the plane will be disassembled and brought to a hangar, Ogden said. He said Ryco Aviation of Biddeford, a company affiliated with Ryan Insurance Services, will then be in charge of the plane.

Ryan Insurance president Allen Ryan said he was forbidden to discuss matters regarding the plane with the media.

Acccording to Ryco’s website, after removing a plane from a crash site, the company brings it to a facility in Biddeford, where is stays “until it is sold by or on behalf of the insurer or owner.”

The 1946 Stinson Voyager, which Hanson bought about 10 years ago, was used in 1967 to test an innovative safety system, in which the wings could separate from the fuselage and all three pieces could be carried to the ground by parachutes.

Hanson and the plane were featured in a documentary about that technology.

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

Related Stories
Latest Articles