CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) – A small plane crash in a Clearwater mobile home park has left three people dead, the Clearwater Police Department confirmed on Thursday.
The tragic incident occurred at the Bayside Waters community, where the small plane crashed into several units, sparking a fire. According to a report from the FAA, one crew member on the plane and two individuals on the ground lost their lives in the crash. The pilot had reported an emergency to the St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport just before the plane went off radar, approximately 3 miles north of a runway.
The airport, located about 7 miles southeast of Clearwater, received a distress call from the pilot before losing contact with the aircraft. The plane, identified as a single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, had departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park.
The impact of the crash was felt by residents in the mobile home park, including a 72-year-old man who described hearing an “unbelievable roar” before being thrown to the floor and covered in insulation and broken glass. He narrowly survived the disaster, but his mobile home was torn apart, and the neighboring trailer was also destroyed.
The community is in mourning following the tragic event, and authorities are working to piece together the details of the crash in order to determine the cause. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by this devastating incident.