CLEARWATER, Fla. – A small plane crashed into a Florida mobile home park on Thursday, claiming the lives of three people and causing fires to break out in several units, according to the Clearwater Police Department.
The crash, which occurred in the Bayside Waters community, resulted in the deaths of one crew member on the plane and two individuals on the ground. The pilot had reportedly issued an emergency call to St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport before the plane disappeared from radar, about 3 miles north of a runway, according to Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers.
The airport, located approximately 7 miles southeast of Clearwater, received a distress call from the pilot before losing contact with the aircraft. The plane, a single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, had taken off from Vero Beach Regional Airport and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park, according to FlightAware data.
A 72-year-old man living in the mobile home park described the harrowing experience of being thrown to the floor by the impact of the crash, which left his home and the adjacent trailer severely damaged.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, working to determine what led to this tragic incident.
The Clearwater Police Department has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged to provide updates as the investigation progresses. This devastating event serves as a somber reminder of the potential dangers associated with air travel and the need for continued vigilance in ensuring aviation safety.