Pilot in Narragansett crash: “Two planes in 6 months isn’t a good record to have, but I’m still here.”

July 6, 2016 10:30 pm

By: Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

NARRAGANSETT, RI – Monday’s plane crash into the waters off of Narragansett, makes it Jeremiah Coholan’s second crash in just six months.

"Expletive, expletive expletive, right to the water, and it was a huge loud noise," said Coholan Wednesday, recalling the traumatic experience. "The water came over the cockpit, started filling it up. I popped the buckle and got out of my harness."

The 26-year-old from North Dartmouth is a full time pilot for Simmons Aviation in Westerly, and was flying an AT&T banner off the back of the plane for work. That’s when, he said, the engine shut off. How it happened is currently under investigation.

"Right now its just a waiting game and. I am still here. It was pretty scary. The last four seconds were very scary," Coholan said.

It’s not the first time Coholan has crashed in a Simmons Aviation plane. In January, he was flying to Rochester, New York, when he crashed into someone’s backyard after his engine had once again failed him.

"I was like hang on buddy, we’re going in! I dropped it in, I put it right down in the field and it was actually a very good landing," Coholan recalled. "I slid up between two trees and stopped right in front of some guys house."

Coholan told ABC6 News he is lucky to be alive, but even with the daunting track record, his eyes are still on the skies. He is not afraid to keep on flying.

"Two planes in six months isn’t a good record to have but, I am still here."