Officials: 2 killed when plane heading to LI crashes into Dutchess County home

An aircraft headed to Long Island crashed into a Hudson Valley home Saturday and killed two people, officials say.

News 12 Staff

Aug 19, 2019, 10:13 AM

Updated 1,726 days ago

Share:

An aircraft headed to Long Island crashed into a Hudson Valley home Saturday and killed two people, officials say.
The twin-engine airplane was scheduled to land at Republic Airport in Farmingdale. Officials say it encountered engine trouble and went down in Dutchess County around 4:15 p.m.
The pilot, tentatively identified as 61-year-old Francisco Knipping-Diaz, of Woodmere, died at the scene. Police have also tentatively identified his two passengers as Eduardo Tio, 50, also of Woodmere, and Teofilio Antonio Diaz Pratt, 52, of the Dominican Republic. The passengers sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
A 61-year-old man who died inside the home was identified as Gerard Bocker. Two of Bocker's daughters were also inside the home at the time of the crash – Hannah, who was critically injured, and Sarah who sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
According to state police, the Cessna airplane took off from Orange County Airport then refueled at Sky Acres Airport in LaGrangeville before crashing into a nearby home. They say the plane was en route to Long Island's Republic Airport.
Shaindy Glickman lives next door to Knipping-Diaz. She says Frank, as she called him, loved to entertain and have large family barbecues. Other neighbors say he was always quick to say hello.
According to public records, Knipping-Diaz was an attorney at a law firm in Manhattan. News 12 made phone calls to the firm, but they were not returned.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the FAA.


More from News 12
1:17
16-year-old charged with 2nd-degree assault in stabbing at Mount Vernon HS

16-year-old charged with 2nd-degree assault in stabbing at Mount Vernon HS

2:34
Spotty showers for Mother's Day weekend in Hudson Valley before sun returns early next week

Spotty showers for Mother's Day weekend in Hudson Valley before sun returns early next week

Marine from Westchester seriously injured in Orange County crash

Marine from Westchester seriously injured in Orange County crash

0:36
Garnerville man accused of killing teen in hit-and-run offered 1 to 3 years in prison: Rockland County DA

Garnerville man accused of killing teen in hit-and-run offered 1 to 3 years in prison: Rockland County DA

MTA announces completion of modernization project, new connections from Orange, Rockland counties to NYC

MTA announces completion of modernization project, new connections from Orange, Rockland counties to NYC

0:20
$33M in funding being allocated to Dutchess, Ulster and Rockland counties to create new transitional, emergency housing

$33M in funding being allocated to Dutchess, Ulster and Rockland counties to create new transitional, emergency housing

1:02
Headlines: Man faces child endangerment charges, fatal accident, victim ID’d in fatal fire

Headlines: Man faces child endangerment charges, fatal accident, victim ID’d in fatal fire

0:24
Day-old abandoned kittens found in milk carton in need of foster homes

Day-old abandoned kittens found in milk carton in need of foster homes

0:27
Yonkers City Council votes to extend red light camera program for another 5 years

Yonkers City Council votes to extend red light camera program for another 5 years

1:28
Suffern mom shows kids 'it's never too late' after completing her doctorate

Suffern mom shows kids 'it's never too late' after completing her doctorate

0:20
Jet Blue to fly to Puerto Rico from Westchester County Airport come fall

Jet Blue to fly to Puerto Rico from Westchester County Airport come fall

0:17
Artemi Panarin scores in overtime, Rangers beat Hurricanes 3-2 to take 3-0 series lead

Artemi Panarin scores in overtime, Rangers beat Hurricanes 3-2 to take 3-0 series lead

0:51
Group of state lawmakers propose legislation to protect sexual assault victims

Group of state lawmakers propose legislation to protect sexual assault victims

0:56
First adult-use cannabis shop opens its doors in Yonkers

First adult-use cannabis shop opens its doors in Yonkers

1:44
‘He never left the garage alive.’ Town of Wallkill murder-for-hire trial resumes with police testimony

‘He never left the garage alive.’ Town of Wallkill murder-for-hire trial resumes with police testimony

0:28
Wake services held in Westchester County for police officer who died in off-duty accident

Wake services held in Westchester County for police officer who died in off-duty accident

0:28
'Pat's Place' offers safe haven for unhoused youth in Dutchess County

'Pat's Place' offers safe haven for unhoused youth in Dutchess County

1:30
Former discount shopping hotspot Playtog's Plaza to be reinvented

Former discount shopping hotspot Playtog's Plaza to be reinvented

2:08
Ossining HS students welcome home inmate who they say changed their lives

Ossining HS students welcome home inmate who they say changed their lives