NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — The community of Newburyport is mourning after a former mayor was killed when the plane he was flying crashed in Methuen.
At 1 p.m., Alan Lavender was flying his experimental aircraft when something went wrong, causing the plane to crash into the roof of a condo building.
Radio transmissions with the air field from the moments before the crash don’t indicate any signs of problems.
“It's not good. I went over to see his wife already,” Erford Fowler said. “She's not too well right now.”
Lavender had spent years building the aircraft, and neighbors said his death is a shock.
Lavender had served three terms on the Newburyport City Council and a brief stint as mayor.
“He will be missed and that our prayers are with you and if there's anything the city can do were here,” current Mayor Donna Holaday said.