Small Plane Crashes Off South Cape Beach In Mashpee

By: Brian Kehrl
Published: 08/02/10

Both passengers escaped with minimal injuries after a small airplane crashed into Nantucket Sound just off South Cape Beach around mid-day Monday.

The plane, flying in the direction of Cotuit, reportedly had engine troubles, and the pilot was forced to bring it down into the water about 100 yards off shore.

The two passengers swam ashore to the busy beach overseen by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, where they remained for several hours after receiving treatment by emergency medical technicians, answering questions from a gaggle of news media.

The state and town beaches were temporarily closed to swimming but later reopened.

As of mid-afternoon, the plane was mostly submerged and tied to a tow-boat about 20 yards off shore, as local and state officials waited for the National Transportation Safety Board to arrive. The NTSB investigates every aviation accident in the country.