Fatal plane crash in Ottawa County

green@oc-register.comA mysterious airplane crash killed a Worthington man Monday, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said.As of Monday evening, authorities had few answers that explained how the twin-engine Piper Apache, flown by Richard Schimizze, 60, took a nosedive just off the takeoff ramp at Erie-Ottawa International Airport.The wreckage of the plane was seen scattered throughout the backyard of a home on East Harbor Road with its nose in the ground for much of the day.Surveillance video obtained from a nearby Walmart showed Schimzze, who was flying alone, bank hard to the left and plummet at about 3 p.m., Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Joe Wentworth said.Lt. Brett Gockstetter of the patrol said it remains unclear if a mechanical problem caused the crash, but he confirmed the aircraft was being flown for the first time after being serviced.Troopers were dispatched to the scene, along with a multitude of local law enforcement agencies.Schimizze was pronounced dead at the scene.Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were on site Monday and will continue to investigate the crash. Sgt. Wentworth said members of the National Transportation Safety Board will assist in the investigation Tuesday.No calls for distress were received from the pilot. Register photo/LUKE WARK Emergency responders and investigators surround the wreckage of a Piper Apache airplane that crashed on takeoff from Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Monday afternoon. Register photo/LUKE WARK Emergency responders and investigators surround the wreckage of a Piper Apache airplane that crashed on takeoff from Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Monday afternoon. Register photo/LUKE WARK Firefighters hold up tarps to block the view of the wreckage of a Piper Apache airplane that crashed while taking off from Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Monday afternoon. Pilot Richard Schimizze, 60, of Worthington, was killed in the crash. Register photo/LUKE WARK Firefighters hold up tarps to block the view of the wreckage of a Piper Apache airplane that crashed while taking off from Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Monday afternoon. Pilot Richard Schimizze, 60, of Worthington, was killed in the crash. Register photo/LUKE WARK The mangled wreckage of the wing of a Piper Apache twin-engine airplane hangs just above the ground Monday evening just north of Erie-Ottawa International Airport. Register photo/LUKE WARK Firefighters hold up tarps to block the view of the wreckage of a Piper Apache airplane that crashed while taking off from Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Monday afternoon as emergency responders take away a body bag from the scene. Pilot Richard Schimizze, 60, of Worthington, was killed in the crash.