Buddhist Monks Help Rescue 4 Pas­sengers from Fiery Plane Crash in Chenango County

SMITHVILLE, N.Y. -- Pure luck: That's how witnesses and rescue crews described the scene where the victims of a plane crash outside the Palyul Retreat Center were able to walk away.

"Crews that have come back in have said they are very lucky they didn't sustain more serious injuries. It seems to be that the branches on the trees, helped break the fall," said Chenango County Deputy Fire Assistant Michael Beckwith.

"It's one of those amazing stories of people who've been in a plane crash and have been able to walk away," said Palyul Temple Buddhist Center Volunteer Mary Pratt.

In what is normally a quiet area, center members and volunteers heard a loud rumbling in the sky. Investigators say a one-engine plane was flying low when it struck the tops of trees.

"It sounded like the engine idled then stopped. The plane crashed right after that, and then we heard boom," said Pratt.

Witnesses rushed to the crash site and pulled the pilot and three other passengers out.

"Fortunately, we had monks in the temple, and some of our stronger younger male students ran out to the plane and were able to get the victims out quickly," said Pratt.

"The four people on the plane had walked out. They sustained minor injuries. All four were transported to Wilson Hospital in Binghamton," said Beckwith.

Moments after pulling everyone out, investigators say there was an explosion and the aircraft caught fire.

"Being that there was airplane fuel, it is more volatile than regular gasoline. By the time we got back into the crash site, a lot of it had burned out. They did put out what little fire there was in the tail and the engine itself," said Beckwith.

"The fire was very serious. It burned very hot and burned every single bit of the plane," said Pratt.

One member of the Buddhist Center, who police say helped during the rescue, suffered from smoke inhalation and was also taken to Wilson Hospital.

Police say the plane was coming from Sidney and headed toward Greene.

The National Transportation Safety Board was alerted and will be joining the investigation.