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Police say pilot dead after plane crashes into river in Easton, MD

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A pilot died when a small plane that took off from Tipton Airport in Fort Meade crashed into a river in Easton on Tuesday morning, Maryland State Police said.

The plane took off just before 9 a.m. and crashed into the Tred Avon River near the 6800 block of Travelers Rest Circle about 40 minutes later. Authorities believe the pilot was heading toward Easton Airport.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that the aircraft was a twin-engine Cessna 402 and that only the pilot, who reported an engine failure, was on board.

Authorities identified the pilot as Robert Eugene Merlini, 56, of Annapolis.

The NTSB is leading the investigation. NTSB spokesman Peter C. Knudson said that once the plane is recovered from the water, it will be taken to a secure facility for further investigation and that a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

According to police, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the scene and recovered the victim’s body. Divers received assistance from the Maryland Natural Resources Police Underwater Response Unit.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, and Talbot County Fire and Rescue Services were also on scene.

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