5 Die as Seaplane Slams Into Car, Rhode Island Restaurant

A seaplane crashed into a restaurant and exploded Saturday while trying to land near an island beach, killing five people and forcing customers to dive for safety.

The single-engine plane was heading toward the waters off Block Island’s Fred Benson State Beach when it crashed into a car in front of G.R. Sharkeys and slammed into the restaurant.

The plane’s explosion caused a fire that destroyed the single-story, wood-frame building, which also housed a gas station. The plane narrowly missed the two gas pumps.

“It was like the whole world exploded,” said Corrie Heinz, a bartender at a tavern across the street.

Christopher McGinniss, a gas station attendant, said he shouted at people on an outside deck at the restaurant to get out of the way. They fled and the plastic chairs and tables melted, he said.

McGinniss and three other people were in the restaurant at a counter when the plane crashed, but it was unclear how many customers were on the deck. The restaurant can seat about 50 inside and 25 outside.

Four people died immediately, New Shoreham Police Chief William McCombe said. They included the pilot, two of his three passengers and the person in the car. The other airplane passenger, who had third-degree burns over 90% of his body, died Saturday night at a hospital, officials said.

Witness Gene LaParle was in the water with his 3 1/2-year-old daughter when the plane touched down only about 20 feet away, then skipped off the water and disappeared over a hill.

“I thought it was going to hit me,” he said. “I could see the faces of three people inside. They were wide-eyed. These guys were scared. I saw them plain as day. It was horrible.”