A Rhode Island pilot who told air traffic control he “should be okay” just moments before his plane went down was among two people killed when the aircraft crashed onto a Massachusetts highway in October.
The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary findings in late November on the Oct. 13 crash that claimed the lives of Thomas Perkins, 68, and his wife, Agatha Perkins, 66. The couple was flying in a Socata TBM 700 when it went down along Interstate 195 near Exit 22 in Dartmouth, Mass.
Thomas, who was piloting the aircraft, had departed New Bedford Regional Airport that morning on a planned trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin. But shortly after takeoff, he radioed air traffic control to say he needed to return to the airport.
Controllers cleared him to turn back, and Thomas indicated he didn’t need assistance. When asked whether he needed radar guidance or could make the approach himself, he replied that he would descend and that he “should be okay.”
A minute later, controllers issued a low-altitude alert. Thomas acknowledged the message — then moments after, made an unintelligible exclamation. It was the last transmission they received.
The NTSB said the plane crashed just 3.6 nautical miles from the airport, slicing through treetops about 50 feet above the ground before tearing across a wooded area, an off-ramp, and both sides of Interstate 195. The fuselage came to rest in the median.
During the crash, the aircraft also struck a vehicle on I-195 West. The driver suffered only minor injuries.
Investigators documented burned and damaged wings, a breached fuel tank, and a damaged rudder. The fuselage, though the furthest piece of wreckage, remained mostly intact. While the cabin door was found open at the scene, witness video showed it had been closed immediately after impact. Both front seats had broken free inside the cabin.
The wreckage has been retained for further analysis. There were no other passengers on board.
According to FAA records reported by The Boston Globe, Thomas Perkins held a valid pilot’s license. His obituary describes him as a partner at Kirby Perkins Construction and a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight Northeast, providing free flights for patients in need of medical care. He and Agatha leave behind two children and three grandchildren.
“Tom was passionate about giving back and was well regarded for his generosity and charitable involvement,” his obituary reads. “Tom and Aggie’s Perkins Family Fund supported many of the island’s charitable organizations and causes close to their hearts.”
Agatha’s remembrance highlighted her love of athletic activities and her “infectious spirit, generous heart, sense of adventure, and the joy she brought to every day.”
What's Up Team
They were called home.