TWO people from Massachusetts are dead after crashing an experimental home-built plane in the Town of Ghent in Columbia County, New York, News Channel 13 reported today.

The small, two-seater plane - an amateur built Model X5 - crashed in a field about 2.20pm on Sunday (local time), shortly after take-off north of New York City. It landed about 0.8km away from a house.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

The pilot was a 49-year old man and his passenger was a friend, a 52-year old woman - both from Pittsfield.

A witness said it was a fairly windy afternoon and they heard a "pop" from the plane. Police said there were at least a dozen witnesses at the scene of the crash.

"It appears it was a kit-built plane and it didn't need a long runway to take off so they were capable of taking off in the field right behind me," said Lt. James H. Murphy of the New York State Police.
State Police said the pilot was experienced and owned two planes.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.