Ophthalmologist, pilot killed in crash near State College
Dr. Robert Arffa
A plane approaching University Park Airport from the east crashed into a wooded area Thursday, killing both people on board.
Smoke can be seen in the woods near the 1400 block of Barnes Lane in Benner Township where a Piper PA-31 crashed Thursday, killing the pilot and a Western Pennsylvania eye doctor.
A Collier Township ophthalmologist was identified Friday as one of two victims of a plane crash Thursday near State College in Centre County.
Nittany Eye Associates, in a statement on its website, confirmed the death of corneal specialist Dr. Robert Arffa. The pilot, Gary Orner of White Oak, also died in the crash.
Arffa, whose office is on Washington Pike near Bridgeville, “was in a plane that crashed during landing yesterday at University Park Airport. As he has done for every month in the last 15 years, Dr. Arffa was traveling from Pittsburgh to State College to perform LASIK and (laser) procedures at Nittany Eye.
“We, at Nittany Eye, are devastated by this news. Dr. Arffa was a world-class surgeon. He was also a world-class friend to all who knew him. We deeply appreciate the exceptional care you have provided to our patients, Dr. Arffa, and we will miss you tremendously.”
The twin-engine airplane based at Washington County Airport crashed Thursday morning near State College. Arffa and Orner were pronounced dead at the scene by Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers, who on Friday afternoon, gave Arffa’s age as 62 and identified him as a Pittsburgh resident.
A statement from Thomas M. Pizzuti, president of Aero Nationational Inc., based at Washington County Airport, said the men were traveling on a regularly scheduled charter flight.
“Gary was an experienced pilot and had flown this scheduled charter with Dr. Arffa on numerous occasions. Aero National extends our deepest sympathies to the Orner and Arffa families at this very difficult time. Gary will be greatly missed by his friends at Aero National Inc.,” Pizzuti’s statement said.
Other than to note Aero National is cooperating with National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, Pizzuti said there would be no further comment from the company about the Piper PA-31-325 owned and operated by the company.
The plane was approaching the runway about 8:28 a.m. when it went down in a densely wooded area about a mile east of University Park Airport in Centre County, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.
The plane left Washington County Airport at 7:40 a.m. on what was a scheduled 48-minute flight, airport Executive Director Scott Gray said.
According to Aero National’s website, the Piper Navajo propeller aircraft can carry as many as six passengers. The company has five planes in its fleet, according to its website.
NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said their agency’s investigators were at the scene Thursday working to determine what caused the crash.