BAYONNE -- Dozens of residents flocked to Avenue E Sunday afternoon to get a glimpse of a plane that came crashing down into a residential neighborhood. 

The pilot, 56-year-old George Pettway of Long Island, was alert and talking after the crash. He was brought to Jersey City Medical Center in stable condition, officials said yesterday. 

Thousands were without power and three cars were crushed, but no one else was injured and the plane did not cause any structural damage. 

Crews first towed two of the damaged cars from the roadway near the 41st Street intersection. A crane then lifted the small Piper PA-28 aircraft onto a flatbed and relocated it to a city garage. 

It has not yet been announced what caused the plane to crash, though city officials said Pettway appeared to have encountered some type of difficultly near the Statue of Liberty. 

The Federal Aviation Administration was on the scene hours after the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine what caused the pilot to crash. A spokesperson for the NTSB said this morning additional information is expected to be released later today. 

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

 

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