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Update: Vermont residents uninjured in Wyman Township plane crash

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A float plane that crashed into Bigelow Mountain Range Thursday morning. This photo was taken by a Maine Forest Service helicopter responding to the crash site.

[Update: 8:18 p.m.] – Two Vermont residents escaped serious injury today, after their small float plane crashed into the side of Bigelow Mountain Range in Wyman Township Thursday morning.

According to Stephen McCausland, the spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at roughly 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Inside the plane was pilot and owner, Frank Gibney of Colchester, Vt., as well as a single passenger, Diane Muhr, also of Colchester, Vt. Both individuals were described as being in their mid-60s. Their planned destination was the International Seaplane Fly-In, an annual event held in Greenville that brings “thousands of participants and spectators to the Moosehead Region,” according to the event’s website.

The float plane piloted by Gibney was flying alongside a second plane piloted by an acquaintance Thursday morning when weather caused a loss of visibility. Gibney’s plane crashed into trees on the Bigelow Mountain range.

The friend contacted the Maine Warden Service office in Greenville, and a team of Wardens, Forest Rangers and Maine State Police troopers responded to the crash site, located in in Wyman Township, part of the Unorganized Territory north of Carrabassett. First responders from Eustis, Carrabassett Valley and Kingfield also responded to the area. A Maine Forest Service helicopter helped transport first responders closer to the crash site.

Both Gibney and Muhr escaped injury in the crash. They proceeded to hike about half a mile up the mountain and then walked out of the woods along the Appalachian Trail.

McCausland said that the crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which will send an investigator to the site.

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WYMAN TOWNSHIP – A small plane has reportedly crashed on or near Bigelow Mountain, with two occupants now hiking to meet first responders.

According to information released by Stephen McCausland, the spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred around 11 a.m. this morning. State police and Maine Game Wardens are responding to the scene, which is in Wyman Township, part of the Unorganized Territory north of Carrabassett.

Two occupants of the plane have reportedly received minor injuries in the crash and are now walking along a trail to meet first responders.

More information on this story will be reported when it becomes available.

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2 Comments

  1. Wow…Are those 2 people lucky or what? No place to put a plane down in that area..all big pine trees and mountain! Unless they found an old logging road?

  2. Looks like it was those very pine trees that may have saved them. It could have been dumb luck or a very skilled pilot. Most likely a little of both. I would like to find out who piloted the aircraft and commend him for a job well done. Even after the crash they had enough sense to navigate rural Maine to find help. If I was them , the first thing I would do is go to a casino or play the lottery!

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