Montclair 'Hero' Pilot Remembered, Fatal Crash Probe Continues

Craig MacCallum, avid pilot and father, was remembered by his wife Carol Schlein, two days after the Montclair man was killed and his student passenger was seriously injured when their plane crashed shortly after taking off from the Linden Airport Friday afternoon, according to NJ.com.

MacCallum, 58, was killed after the plane crash-landed on unused railroad tracks near Routes 1 & 9 and the airport, the article said. The investigation is ongoing, with a report expected from the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal agency that investigates all airplane and train crashes, in about 10 days. 

The 19-year-old, Timothy Monticchio of Monmouth Junction, was taken to University Hospital in Newark where he remains in critical condition, according to the article.

The plane experienced difficulty immediately after takeoff at about 1 p.m., according to myfoxny.com. The pilot attempted to turn the plane back toward the airport and called a mayday, the article said.

MacCallum, who was an instructor at Linden-based Best in Flight Co., attempted to make an emergency landing near the former General Motors factory before crashing, according to the article.

Schlein described her husband as a "hero," for piloting the plane away from highways and busy thoroughfares.

MacCallum, who began flying planes when he was 16, was a certified flight instructor with 3,500 hours of pilot in command and 1,500 hours of dual instruction given, according to his profile on Best in Flight's website.