Greenville, Pa., pilot injured in plane crash

GREENVILLE, Pa. —  A 56-year-old Greenville man remained in critical condition today after being hurt when his replica World War I airplane crashed in a cornfield in Greene Township here.

Fred Murrin was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, after the crash, which occurred about 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Murrin was practicing “touch-and-go” landings and takeoffs at the Greenville Airport, said Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane was in the air over the cornfield went it went down.

He said the plane sustained substantial damage. The National Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation into why the crash occurred.

The plane was a replica Sopwith Camel, the type of plane made famous by Snoopy in the “Peanuts” cartoon.