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Authorities have released the name of the pilot who died in a plane crash in Saratoga County on Friday (October 31). Fifty-eight-year-old Frederick Barber was killed when his aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Saratoga County Airport. The plane hit a tree and came to rest in a driveway near a home on Wyndham Way in Milton. Barber was pronounced dead at the scene, while his passenger was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
The crash occurred just before 10:30 a.m., according to Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. When first responders arrived, they found the plane in the driveway, only a few feet from an occupied home. "It hit the top of a tree and basically dropped into the driveway," Zurlo said. Fortunately, no one in the home was injured.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. The NTSB confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Mooney M20E. The crash happened about 30 minutes before a wind advisory was set to take effect in the area, with gusts expected to reach up to 50 mph. It is unclear if the wind played a role in the crash, but Sheriff Zurlo stated that they would work with the FAA and NTSB to determine the cause.