His family has identified Paul Vidal, 74, of Westport, as the pilot whose small plane crashed into New Bedford’s Rural Cemetery Monday at around 3 p.m.

Flight data revealed that the Cessna 150 had taken off from New Bedford Regional Airport about 20 minutes earlier. Witnesses said they saw the plane flying low and apparently in trouble before it dove into the cemetery. Nobody on the ground was hurt and the plane had no other passengers.

Authorities had not yet identified Mr. Vidal early Tuesday, but his son, Andrew, told Boston’s WCVB5 TV that he recognized the plane when he saw the wreckage on television.

Mr. Vidal, a licensed pilot, had nearly 25 years of flying experience, his son said, and often traveled with his wife following his career as a teacher at the Community College of Rhode Island, according to his son.

"Every couple of days, when it was nice weather, he liked to get out and fly around," Andrew Vidal said. "He wanted to be an airline pilot when he was younger."

Mr.Vidal is survived by his wife, son, daughter and three grandchildren.