ORLEANS COUNTY/Sheriff’s Office releases the names of the pilot and passenger in plane crash

Press Release

Orleans County Sheriff’s Investigators along with our Federal partners from the FAA and the NTSB continue to investigate the fatal crash of a single engine fixed wing hand built experimental aircraft that occurred on 5/28/23 at 5:42pm in the Town of Yates

The pilot Earl J. Luce Jr, age 70, of Brockport ,N.Y. and passenger, Morris Wortman, age 72, of Rochester, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Orleans County Coroner’s Office.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the wings of the aircraft became detached from the fuselage and fell to the ground landing in an orchard. The fuselage of the aircraft continued west approximately 1000 to 1500 yards before crashing into a pasture behind a residence.

Sheriff’s Investigators and the NTSB will be on site Tuesday to continue the investigation.  

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic event.