Candlewood Lake, CT – September 15, 1956

Candlewood Lake, CT – September 15, 1956

     On the afternoon of September 15, 1956, a four-seat seaplane was attempting to land on Candlewood Lake near Danbury, when unbeknownst to the pilot one of the wheels had not retracted properly upon takeoff when they left New York.  The protruding wheel caused the plane to flip over when it landed on the water.  Fortunately the pilot, John W. Lake of Long Island, N. Y., and his wife Dolly, were able to extricate themselves as the cabin filled with water, and were then rescued by several motorboats in the area.    

     Candlewood Lake is just over eight square miles in size, and borders the Connecticut towns of Danbury, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Sherman, and New Milford.  

Source: New York Times, “L.I. Pair In Plane Crash”, September 15, 1956. 

Return to Top ▲Return to Top ▲