A grim silence settled over Bath Township on a chilly morning after a single-engine aircraft crashed directly onto Clark Road between Upton and Peacock Roads, leaving three people dead at the scene. Emergency responders arrived to a scene of devastation, and local authorities have confirmed the victims were “obvious DOA” — dead on arrival — when crews reached them.
All lanes of Clark Road remain closed in both directions as Bath Township Police, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, and EMS units work to secure the area and preserve evidence. The crash site spans the roadway itself, with debris scattered across the asphalt and emergency lights casting harsh relief in the dim light. Motorists have been urged to avoid the area and seek alternative routes while the investigation is underway.
Officials have reported that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified. Investigators from those agencies are expected to assume control of the crash inquiry, carefully combing through wreckage, flight path data, and witness accounts in the coming hours and days.
Neighbors in Bath Township say they heard a sudden, violent roar — like a violent backfire or engine sputter — before the aircraft came down. One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, described the sound as “a shriek that just didn’t quit,” followed by an instant, blinding flash. Within moments, sirens erupted and emergency crews flocked in.
At this early stage, officials haven’t released the identities of the victims or any passenger manifests. It’s also unclear what kind of plane it was, how many were onboard, or what led to the crash. The rapid descent onto a public roadway suggests an emergency situation — perhaps engine failure or loss of control — though nothing is confirmed yet.
As the NTSB and FAA take over, families, neighbors, and the community wait in shock and sorrow. In coming hours, investigators hope to shed light on how a routine flight ended in such tragedy — and to offer answers to those left behind.