Nantucket Pilot Survives Plane Crash On Muskeget Island

A Nantucket pilot survived a plane crash on Muskeget Island Sunday morning with no injuries.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine Maule aircraft was "attempting a go around" when it "struck a tree and overturned" on the small, unpaved runway on Muskeget, the uninhabited island west of Nantucket and Tuckernuck.

Several sources identified the pilot as Steven Holdgate, of Nantucket. Reached by the Current on Monday, Holdgate stated "no comment at this time." 

Nantucket Police Chief Jody Kasper said her department was notified of the plane crash around 3:05 p.m. on Sunday. She told the Current that her officers determined the pilot departed from Nantucket Memorial Airport at approximately 10:38 a.m. and crashed on Muskeget around 10:50 a.m. Kasper added that the Massachusetts State Police were notified about the incident and coordinated with the appropriate authorities. 

Aviation sources on Nantucket tell the Current that Holdgate was attempting to land on Muskeget. It was not an emergency landing, they said.

Crocker Snow, who owns most of Muskeget, said Monday morning that the small runway had recently been mowed, but he was not aware of the plane crash. Later in the day, he called back to say Holdgate had contacted him and was doing well. 

Holdgate previously had a rough landing on Muskeget in the same plane back in October 2019, when the single-engine Maule sustained damage, including the collapse of the left main landing gear, and bent wing struts.