The president of the East Hampton Aviation Association (EHAA), a group that represents the interests of local general aviation, pilots, historic plane enthusiasts, and operators of aircraft at East Hampton Airport, was killed on October 6th when the single-engine airplane he was flying appeared to have lost a wing and crashed in East Hampton, authorities said.
The pilot, Kent Feuerring of Sagaponack, Long Island, was flying solo in his 2022 Seamax M-22 amphibious aircraft when the crash occurred on the banks of Three Mile Harbor in the Northwest Harbor section of East Hampton on Thursday at approximately 12:30 p.m., according to the East Hampton Town Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration.
In a statement by the police, “Witnesses of the accident reported seeing what appeared to be a wing that broke off the fuselage before the aircraft spiraled downward into the water.”
“Kent Feuerring was committed to flying and the East Hampton Airport,” said Erin King Sweeney, executive director of the East Hampton Community Alliance, which also advocates for the airport and its pilots. “As president of the East Hampton Aviation Association, Kent put his heart into supporting the airport and local pilots who shared his love of flying.”
“He loved local aviation and was always an advocate for local pilots,” said King Sweeney. She added that he knew the importance of the airport to the local community and worked with local pilots, hosting weekend events called “Just Plane Funday’’, where he would have pilots gather to meet with children and community members to show them airplanes and encourage flying.
According to Feuerring’s LinkedIn page, he was an advertising executive and a partner in a Hollywood/New York-based film production company called ‘apictures’, splitting his time between New York and Los Angeles.
East Hampton Town Police Department detective, the FAA, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Suffolk Medical Examiner’s office, and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the scene. The FAA said that the NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will furnish additional updates.
‘’Our thoughts and prayers and condolences go to the family and friends,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor, Peter Van Scoyoc at a town board meeting shortly after the crash.