There were also a wife, kids, and dog on board.

At least five people — three adults and two children — have died after a small plane crashed on Interstate 287 outside of Morris Township, according to State Police. A dog aboard the plane also was killed. There were no survivors, said State Police spokesman Lt. Stephen Jones. On board the private single-engine turbo-prop, according to a press release from a New York City investment bank, Greenhill & Co., were two of its managing directors, Jeffrey F. Buckalew, 45, and Rakesh Chawla, 36, both from New York City. The company said the aircraft “belonged to Mr. Buckalew, an experienced pilot whose passion was flying,” and that Buckalew’s wife, Corinne, and their two children, Jackson and Meriwether, were also on board.

Neighbors reported hearing a sound like an engine revving, then a loud whistling sound, like that of an incoming mortar, and finally the boom of the crash. “It shook the house,” said Camilla Sivertsson, who lives on James Street. The plane appeared to nosedive and disintegrate as it fell toward 287, crashing near the entrance ramp on Harter Lane and exploding in a ball of flames.

[NJ.com, WSJ, Bloomberg]

Comments (28)

  1. Posted by PermaGuestII | December 20, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    My condolences to their friends and family. So sad, especially at this time of year.

  2. Posted by Alt_EST | December 20, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Agree. Bess should close the comments now before someone makes the tasteless and inevitable DK joke.

  3. Posted by guest | December 20, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Too many tragic private plane stories in our industry. Stay on the ground — KJI got that one thing right.

  4. Posted by Businessman | December 20, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    really sad news…deep condolences to their family and friends.

  5. Posted by guest | December 20, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    So far you're the only one to make a joke.

  6. Posted by Whoops | December 20, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    It's a real shame to see people cut down at such young ages, especially children. My deepest sympathies go out to those who knew them.

  7. Posted by inlovewithpmco | December 20, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    That totally Fuckin Sucks.

  8. Posted by Former Colleague | December 20, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Had the opportunity to work with both gentleman and meet Jeff's family while at Greenhill. Both were great, hard working men. Very sad day.

    Thoughts and prayers to all those who knew Jeff, Corrine, Jackson, Meriwether or Rakesh.

  9. Posted by Markus Niku | December 20, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    serious question: for successful people that own / pilot their own airplanes, is it possible to always have like… a parachute? or some sort of 'get out of jail free'?

  10. Posted by guest | December 20, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    examine motives. time, place, occasion buddy.

  11. Posted by inlovewithpmco | December 20, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    you are a douche

  12. Posted by Captain Ned | December 20, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    Yes, there are parachutes available that would bring the entire plane down safely.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_Recovery_S...

  13. Posted by Yakiddinme | December 20, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    gonna catch it for this but…

    Too low, it all happened too fast and no pilot is gonna jump on a family. Least none I know. He was fighting it all the way down.

    Very sad. Condolences.

  14. Posted by trojan_ | December 20, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    something tragic like this puts losing the T-Mobile deal in perspective

  15. Posted by guest | December 20, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    My MD had this on installed on his plane.

  16. Posted by What about his legitimate years? | December 20, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    the death of children is always incredibly cruel.

  17. Posted by Guest | December 20, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Terrible. It really brings home how fragile life is and how we should appreciate each other while we're here. Rest in Peace.

  18. Posted by joe pilot | December 20, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    not for that class of plane.

  19. Posted by ariele | December 21, 2011 at 2:26 AM

    http://adf.ly/2FdAj
    7 Miracles of the World:

  20. Posted by responsible pilot | December 21, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    The result is tragic, primarily for the passengers. Yesterday there were perfect conditions for icing on the airframe. Similar to JFK, Jr. it was irresponsible to fly in yesterday's weather in that aircraft with the relatively limited experience of the pilot.

    The passengers relied on the pilot in command to fly safely. That didn't happen.

    Terrible loss for those who passed, for their families, friends and colleagues. The pilot was less a victim, than the cause.

  21. Posted by myron | December 21, 2011 at 9:00 AM

    my condolences to his family. oh shoot, never mind, he killed his whole family..

    "3 beautiful human beings, one dog, and 2 bankers killed in plane crash"…details at 11

  22. Posted by Kevin S. | December 21, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    Sorry to be so overpoweringly cynical re Wall Street…but…sounds like the guy….of immense wealth…was attempting to write-off a family Christmas trip as a business expense. Sadly, his family paid the ultimate price.

  23. Posted by wahoo | December 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Regardless of what you think, making any comment besides one of passing condolonces on to the family is COMPLETELY unnaceptable right now. It's Christmas, people have died far before their years. Say a kind word or two and be on your way.

  24. Posted by Rich People Problems | December 21, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Seriously, fuck them. General aviation fatality rate is something like 5-10x that of commercial flights, but apparently some people can't be bothered to pony up for a professional crew and a twin engine aircraft (or even, horrors, spend an hour at a departure gate in La Guardia). Sad that the dog and kids don't get to make the same choice, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for the adults who got on board.

  25. Posted by Guest | December 21, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    my daughter went to school with the daughter, she was a precious child.

  26. Posted by Tara | December 22, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    You are a complete moron

  27. Posted by Rich People Problems | December 22, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Might be a moron, but I'm not the one who put my family in the least safe means of transport that's still legal in the US (only if he had strapped them all to the back of a motorcycle would it have been higher risk). Flying twice a week for a few years doesn't make you a professional pilot. Statistics catch up with you eventually. Tragedy for the children & relatives, but hopefully this serves as a warning to other part time pilots to not indulge their aviator fantasies with loved ones on board.

  28. Posted by Fukko | December 22, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    sadly, three seats were unfilled. Wish this for all you blood sucking leaches.

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