UPDATED NEWS and VIDEO: Cessna Skydiving Plane Crashes into Home, Pilot Survives

12:05 PM UPDATE 

Hyannis News interviewed some landscapers who were nearby and witnessed the crash. They told Rob Bastille that the plane's engine was cutting out and they thought the plane was going to come down directly on top of them.

According to the landscapers, the engine got one last burst of power at the last moment, enabling the plane to pull up just in the nick of time thereby saving them and their building from being hit. From there the Cessna reportedly circled around and it appeared that the pilot was looking for a place to make an emergency landing possibly at the nearby Sheriff's Ranch.

Instead, the pilot again lost power and the plane came back down, struck a branch, breaking off part of the tree. It then struck and broke off the chimney of the house, tearing a 10 foot hole in the roof. From there, the plane continued downward, ripping apart the eaves and ultimately making a terrible crashing sound as it hit the gravel driveway... the ground reportedly shook.

The landscapers also reported that the pilot was alone in the plane.

The landscapers who at first feared the plane was going to hit them, identified themselves as Shawn Mackenzie, Kyle Joyner, and Michael Boudreau. They all work for Men at Work Landscaping and were at their company office at the corner of Race Lane and Osterville-West Barnstable Road during the near miss.

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The pilot, however, was not the owner according to reports at the scene.  A man later identified as Jimmy Mendonca was photographed and identified as the owner, but refused to be interviewed at by Hyannis News at this time. 

Barnstable Police established a command center at the scene and the highest ranking officer was Deputy Chief Craig A. Tamash.

Officer Blanchard, who was one of the first dispatched to the scene, will therefore shoulder the duty of being the “primary report writer” in relation to this incident.  Officer Blanchard will serve a major role in the overall investigation into this incident, from interviewing witnesses at the scene to following up on the condition of the pilot at Cape Cod Hospital. She will aslo be assisted by Patrol Officer Christopher C. Kelsey.

UPDATE: 1:10 PM

According to airport-data.com the plane's number showed it was a 1956 Cessna 182A fixed wing aircraft with 4 seats registered in Raeford, NC. The listing says that it is registered to an individual and that the registration is "pending."  It is unclear exactly what that means but it may mean ownership was recent, or it also could mean that the registration is in the process of being transferred.

UPDATE: 2:00 PM

Cape Cod Hospital spokesperson David Reilly confirmed that the pilot is Alessandro Mandonca and is listed in "critical condition" at Cape Cod Hospital.

According to radio chatter Alessandro Mandonca is possibly from Miami.

Barnstable Police confirm having received a 911 call alerting them to the crash. 

UPDATE: 3:00 PM

HyannisNews learned that the home involved is owned by Brian and Carol Malone. They were outside the house in their back yard at the time of the crash. They were not hurt.   

Their neighbors across the street, Doug and Kathleen Childs, told HyannisNews in an interview that they witnessed and heard the crash. They then immediately made the 911 call to Barnstable Police. After calling 911 they went to help the pilot who was trying to escape the plane that was now resting upside down in their neighbor’s driveway. The pilot was conscious and talking at that time and trying to get out of the aircraft. He complained of pain in his left shoulder.

Heavy Traffic was clogging the area throughout the day and Barnstable Police were asking that drivers avoid the area. 

Hyannis News will continue to update this story as soon as more information becomes available.