Coroner Releases Cause of Death in June Plane Crash

Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers on Thursday released the cause of death of the two victims in a fatal plane crash last month near University Park Airport.

Pilot Gary Orner of White Oak, Pa., and Dr. Robert Arffa of Pittsburgh, Pa., were both killed in the June 16 crash. ‘Both died from thermal injuries sustained in an airplane crash with fire,’ Sayers said.

Sayers added that there were no drugs or alcohol in either man according to toxicology results.

The twin-engine Piper Navajo crashed at about 8:40 a.m. in a heavily wooded area in Benner Township near the airport. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board issued on June 23 said the plane was destroyed on impact and that the wreckage path of the plane was about 450 feet long.

The preliminary report found no indications of trouble with the flight that originated from Washington County Airport at 8 a.m. that day. Orner was an experienced pilot and his certifications were in good order, the report said.

Arffa was an eye surgeon who frequently traveled from the Pittsburgh area to State College to perform Lasik surgery for Nittany Eye Associates.

A final report and determination of the probable cause of the crash could take up to a year to complete.