Pilot killed in Penn Yan airplane crash

PENN YAN--Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike reported Steven P. Seely, 55, of Stanley died during a fatal plane crash at the Yates County - Penn Yan Airport Sunday, May 3.
The preliminary investigation indicates a single-engine older Cessna aircraft was taking off southbound on the main north-south runway and the plane veered off to the east, striking the ground hard with its nose/propeller and spun around, coming to rest with the tail against the airport fence and trees that border the fence line approximately 100 yards from the runway.
Seely was found deceased in the plane, strapped into his seat. Seely had a student pilot license and was a member of the Penn Yan Flying Club, but owned his own airplane that he kept at the airport. He is the owner of Seely Engine Machine business in Ontario County.
Yates County 911 received the call at 11:38 a.m. from witnesses to the crash from the adjacent Lakeside Country Club golf course. The Penn Yan Fire Department, Penn Yan Ambulance, Medic 55 and the Yates County Office of Emergency Management along with sheriff's deputies responded to the scene. The airport emergency response team also responded.
The Penn Yan Fire Department laid down foam around the plane, as it was leaking fuel to prevent a fire.
Yates County Coroner Steve Culver responded and pronounced the pilot dead at the scene. Penn Yan fire personnel extricated the body and he was taken to the Soldiers and Sailors Hospital morgue.
"The FAA and NTSB have been notified and the FAA was responding to the scene," Spike said. "At this stage we are not sure if there was a medical event to the pilot or an airplane control failure that caused this accident."