Chilling video shows final moments before New Jersey plane crash as pilot is named as cardiologist

Chilling video footage shows the final moments of a private plane before it crashed into a New Jersey home sparking several property fires – as the pilot is named as a renowned 74-year-old cardiologist.   

Dr. Michael Schloss, was flying the twin-engine Cessna 414 when it came down in Berkley Avenue in Colonia at 11am on Tuesday, just several hundred yards from Claremont Avenue Elementary School. 

Schloss, who was an experienced pilot, was the only person on-board and died in the crash. No one was injured on the ground, according to Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.

A woman in a nearby home managed to escape without injury after the flames spread there, McCormac added. 

Security footage from a nearby home shows the plane plummeting out of the sky in an uncontrolled dive before disappearing behind some trees and crashing into the ground.

At least two houses are said to be on fire after the Cessna 414 came down in Berkley Avenue in Colonia at 11am on Tuesday

Images from the scene show fire crews battling flames on the residential street lined with trees

Images from the scene show fire crews battling flames on the residential street lined with trees 

Chilling footage shows Dr. Schloss' plane plummeting out of the sky before disappearing behind some trees and crashing into into the ground

No one was in the property the plane crashed into, but several house fires started as a result

Chilling footage shows Dr. Schloss’ plane plummeting out of the sky before disappearing behind some trees and crashing into into the ground. No one was in the property the plane crashed into, but several house fires started as a result

The renowned cardiologist, who had been a New York City doctor for years, owned two airplanes, according to the New York Post. And he would regularly fly between Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia to Linden Airport in New Jersey, sometimes to attend lectures.

Images from the scene show emergency crews on the residential street as fire crews battle the flames. The family who live in the home hit broke down in tears as they watched their house burn, a neighbor told NJ.com.  

A reporter at the scene told NBC New York: ‘Very heavy flames and very heavy black smoke coming up from the fire.’   

The FAA are said to be heading to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board will also investigate. 

It is understood the eight-seat plane came down in the back of the house en route to Linden Airport. It was due to land there at 10:58 after taking off from Leesburg, Virginia. 

The fire was said to be under control by 1pm. 

Mayor John McCormac said: ‘There was nobody home at the time, which was very fortunate. There was a car in the driveway, so everybody thought somebody was home, but nobody was home, they confirmed with the owner. Right now, we don’t believe any civilians on the ground were impacted by the crash.’ 

'It sounded really low, it started to sputter a little bit. ', one eyewitness said, before a 'huge explosion' (pictured, one of the fires started following the crash)

‘It sounded really low, it started to sputter a little bit. ‘, one eyewitness said, before a ‘huge explosion’ (pictured, one of the fires started following the crash)

Officials said there were no reports of injuries on the ground and the plane was occupied by only the pilot (stock image of a Cessna 414)

Officials said there were no reports of injuries on the ground and the plane was occupied by only the pilot (stock image of a Cessna 414)

Police officer gives a press conference after a small plane crashes into a home on Berkley avenue in New Jersey.

Officer gives media statement following the incident

Police officer gives a press conference after a small plane crashes into a home on Berkley avenue in New Jersey, left and right

An official carries a box full of evidence from the scene of the crash on Tuesday

An official carries a box full of evidence from the scene of the crash on Tuesday

Smoke rises from a New Jersey home after a small plane crashed into a house

The incident set at least two properties alight

Smoke rises from a New Jersey home after a small plane crashed into a house, setting at least two properties alight

An official carries a box full of evidence from the scene of the crash on Tuesday

An official carries a box full of evidence from the scene of the crash on Tuesday

A white car sits in the driveway of the home that was struck by the small plane on Tuesday

A white car sits in the driveway of the home that was struck by the small plane on Tuesday 

A New Jersey Avenel Fire Investigator on the scene after a small plane crashes into a home on Berkley avenue

A New Jersey Avenel Fire Investigator on the scene after a small plane crashes into a home on Berkley avenue 

Officials investigate the scene of the plane crash at a New Jersey home. The weather in the area was cloudy and misty at the time of the crash

Officials investigate the scene of the plane crash at a New Jersey home. The weather in the area was cloudy and misty at the time of the crash

A medical examiner arrives at the scene of the crash on Tuesday. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said only the pilot was on-board and that no one was injured on the ground

A medical examiner arrives at the scene of the crash on Tuesday. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said only the pilot was on-board and that no one was injured on the ground

The nearest airport to the scene is in Linden where a visibility of two miles, calm winds, mist and a ceiling of 700 feet was reported at the time of the crash. 

The weather in the area was cloudy and misty at the time of the crash. 

One eyewitness said: ‘It sounded really low, it started to sputter a little bit. 

‘All of a sudden there was this huge explosion, or just this big bang, louder than any car crash I’ve ever heard.’ 

Another told ABC7: ‘I saw this thing coming in like wing up, wing down, and for a little plane he had a pretty wide wingspan, about maybe 100 feet above the house just roaring in, and then boom – an explosion lit up the sky.’ 

Neighbor Matt Loomis said of the homeowners: ‘They actually both started crying immediately when they started talking.’

It is understood the eight-seat plane came down in the back of the house en route to Linden Airport. It was due to land there at 10:58 after taking off from Leesburg, Virginia

The wreckage, and presumably the pilot, remained lodged in the basement of the house the plane hit, authorities said. There was no word on the pilot’s condition.

The wreckage, and presumably the pilot, remained lodged in the basement of the house the plane hit, authorities said. There was no word on the pilot’s condition.

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