Bayport, NY - September 8, 2015 - Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers responded to an incident during which a seaplane crashed into the Great South Bay in Bayport this morning.
Joseph Cannizzaro attempted to fly a seaplane from the Great South Bay off of Gerritsen Avenue when the pontoon and the left wing caught water, causing the seaplane to crash into the water at approximately 6:45 a.m. The seaplane had achieved very little altitude.
A Good Samaritan, Peter Williams, saw the seaplane in the water and took his boat to the seaplane. Williams tied up the seaplane before emergency personnel arrived. A short time later, Marine Bureau officers arrived and brought Cannizzaro on their boat. Cannizzaro was sitting on his seaplane at the time of arrival. Marine Bureau officers towed the seaplane to a nearby beach adjacent to Homan’s Creek, Bayport. Emergency Services officers also assisted.
Members from the Community Ambulance from Sayville checked out Cannizzaro, 57, of Bayport but he refused medical attention. The FAA investigated the incident. The seaplane was released to Cannizzaro.