Dr. Morris Wortman, 72, of Rochester, was a passenger in the experimental aircraft that went down Sunday in a pasture in Orleans County.
Dr. Morris Wortman, a 72-year-old fertility doctor from Rochester, New York, passed away over the weekend when a hand-built airplane he was aboard crashed in a pasture in Orleans County. Wortman was a passenger in the Wittman W-5 Buttercup, a type of experimental aircraft. The crash occurred on Sunday, and the pilot, Earl Luce Jr., also died in the incident.
The crash took place after the aircraft’s wings detached mid-flight, with the fuselage continuing on for about 1,000 to 1,500 yards before hitting the ground. Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board suggested that the separation of the wings was the primary cause of the crash, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities have been working to determine the full cause of the accident, but initial reports reveal that the wings fell away from the fuselage in mid-air. The incident occurred in an orchard, with the fuselage coming to a stop several yards away from the initial wing impact. No other injuries or casualties have been reported.
Dr. Wortman had been under scrutiny for several years due to accusations that he had used his own sperm to inseminate patients without their knowledge or consent during his time as a fertility specialist. He had been involved in a high-profile case that raised significant ethical and legal questions about his practices.
Though the investigation into the crash continues, Wortman’s death brings a close to his controversial and criminally examined career. The case had drawn public attention, especially due to the widespread accusations made by patients who claimed they were unknowingly inseminated with Wortman’s sperm.
In addition to the investigation of the crash, Wortman’s legacy as a fertility doctor is now overshadowed by the serious allegations against him. His death marks a dramatic turn in a story that had already left many questioning the ethics of fertility medicine. The incident has brought attention to the potential risks associated with experimental aircraft and the medical field, especially concerning physician misconduct.
As authorities continue to investigate the crash, the broader implications of Wortman’s actions remain part of an ongoing public discourse. With the loss of both Wortman and the pilot, the details surrounding this tragic accident may yet reveal more about the practices and risks associated with both his medical career and the experimental aircraft industry.