Plane Registered To Evangelist May Have Hit Approach Light

A Lear 35 registered to religious televangelist Pat Robertson went down in Long Island Sound Friday, a half-mile short of the runway at Groton-New London Airport. The three passengers onboard the plane escaped without serious injury, but both of the aircraft's pilots were killed.

A spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Transportation said the aircraft may have hit an approach light mounted in a cove near the airport. Witnesses reported heavy fog at the time of the accident.

Robertson was not onboard the aircraft, which was registered to Robertson Asset Management and not to his ministry, the Christian Broadcast Network. A spokeswoman for CBN told the Associated Press that Robertson often rented out the aircraft as he seldom used it.

"We're still trying to figure out who was on the plane," said Angell Vasko. "It's not Dr. Robertson or (anyone) related to CBN or related to Dr. Robertson's individual businesses."

The FAA shows one aircraft registered to Robertson Asset Management, a 1980 Lear 35A (file photo of type, right), N-number N182K. The aircraft may have been chartered by International Jet Charter of Norfolk, VA.

The Coast Guard reports the jet took off from Norfolk, VA and stopped in Atlantic City, NJ to drop off two passengers before continuing onto Connecticut.

The identities of the pilots lost have not been released. Little is known of the three survivors, other than all three are men in their 50s, according to the AP.

FMI: www.faa.gov