Small Plane Flips Into the Water Off the Maine Coast, Killing One Aboard
A two-seat Diamond DA20 went down near Bristol Thursday afternoon with two people aboard; the FAA and NTSB are investigating what caused the crash.

A small plane crashed into the water off the coast of Bristol, Maine, on Thursday afternoon, killing at least one of the two people aboard, authorities said.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened around 1:40 p.m. local time, according to the Sun Journal's initial report. A photo shared with the Portland Press Herald showed the aircraft, a two-seat Diamond DA20, flipped upside-down in shallow water near shore. The condition of the second occupant had not been released as of Thursday evening.
FAA spokesperson Rick Breitenfeldt confirmed the crash and said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will jointly investigate, according to Fox23 Maine's report. No cause has been determined.
Bristol sits on Maine's midcoast, a stretch of rocky shoreline dotted with small regional airstrips popular with recreational pilots. The Diamond DA20 is a lightweight, composite-bodied trainer aircraft commonly used for flight instruction, according to WGME's coverage.
Neither victim's identity had been released by Thursday evening pending family notification. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report on small-aircraft accidents within several weeks, with a full determination of cause often taking a year or longer. Investigators will examine weather conditions, the aircraft's maintenance history and pilot qualifications as part of the inquiry.
The crash is the latest reminder of the risks tied to general aviation along Maine's coastline, where small planes frequently operate over open water with limited margin for error in an emergency landing.