Pilot killed by propeller at Beverly Airport

BEVERLY, Mass. -- A pilot was hit and killed by his own propeller while he was attempting to help another pilot on Friday.

Michael Costales, 30, was killed instantly when he came in contact with the propeller on his plane.

"Everybody is in shock. I think a couple people ended up at the hospital because of shock," said Paul Vitale of Beverly Airport.

Investigators said two airplanes were on runway 34 at the Beverly Airport waiting to be cleared for takeoff. In one plane was Costales, who was the head flight instructor at Beverly Flight Center, and his student. In the other plane was another instructor and student.

got out of his plane to help another pilot and his student. The other airplane was having trouble with their canopy.

"He was getting out of his aircraft to help the people in the other aircraft fasten or secure a canopy, which is a canopy on a small light aircraft, which opens up an folds back down again, and that looks to be why he may have been exiting the aircraft," said Vitale.

One of the students called 911, but it was too late. Costales was killed instantly.

The airport was shut down as investigators tried to figure out why he would get off his plane while the propellers were going.

"Ordinarly as a pilot, you dont ordinarly exit the aircraft with the propeller engine running, but we dont know the particulars of why he got out,"

Some said he died doing what he loved.

"I think anyone that loves to fly, I mean they love to go up everday and do their thing and train well. To hear something like this is really tough," said Janet DuBois, a Beverly Airport regular.

Airport officials called the incident the worst accident in Beverly Airport history.

The NTSB and FAA are continuing their investigation. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed on Saturday.

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