Celebration of Thomas Gibson’s life will be Thursday in Somers Point
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – An Ocean City pilot who was killed Saturday when his small plane crashed at the Paramount Airfield in Middle Township worked for the Cape May Aerial banner tow and formerly worked at the Ocean City Airport.
The Middle Township Police Department said Thomas Gibson, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene when his plane crashed at the airfield at 317 Rt. 47 South in the Green Creek section of Middle Township. Police were notified of the crash about 9:35 a.m. Saturday.
Gibson was the pilot of the aircraft.
Members of the Middle Township Patrol Division secured the scene with the assistance of the Green Creek and Rio Grande Fire Departments.
The Middle Township Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit responded with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation of the crash was turned over jointly to members of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, who will determine the cause of the crash.
No further details were released by police and Paramount Air Service, at whose field the plane crashed, did not provide any additional information.
A celebration of Gibson’s life will be Thursday at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.
Gibson, 23, was born in Washington Township and lived in Gloucester Township, Medford and Ocean City. He was a 2017 graduate of Shawnee High School and a 2021 graduate of Marywood University.
According to his obituary, he was a commercial rated pilot with his instrument rating and tail wheel endorsement. He was accumulating hours toward achieving his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate when he was killed in the crash.
He loved many sports and activities including soccer, lacrosse, basketball, paintball and golf.
Survivors include his brother, Harry Benjamin Gibson, parents Harry W. Gibson Jr. and Jeanette Gibson, grandmother Barbara Myers, grandmom Ruth Stuart, an aunt, uncle and cousins.
A celebration of his life will be Thursday, July 21, at Greate Bay County Club, 901 Somers Point Mays Landing Road, Somers Point. Visitation is from 5 p.m. until the time of his service at 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Church of the Nazarene (https://northfieldnazarene.org.) For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff