CLEARWATER, Fla. (TND) — A mobile home community in Clearwater, Florida became the site of investigation of a small plane crash on Thursday evening.
Three other people died in the crash, in addition to a crew member and two other people on the ground, according to an initial report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The user’s identity has not been revealed.
Fire Chief Scott Ehlers, the call came in at 7:08 p. m. and the units arrived on the scene at 7:15 p. m.
Ehlers said he won a report about a fireplace in Bayside Waters, a cellhouse park formerly known as Japanese Gardens.
“At the same time, an aircraft was reported in an emergency situation at the airport, to which the aircraft’s jet vehicles responded,” Ehlers said.
Ehlers said the tower at Clearwater’s Saint Pete Airport gained a radio transmission from the pilot that had a “mayday, mayday, mayday. “
He said the plane disappeared from radar about 3 miles north of the runway, where the fire scene was located. Ehler praised the airport’s sets for their quick reaction to the scene, as air reaction cars “are designed to extinguish larger fires. “
According to a statement obtained by The National Desk, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 crashed in the area after a pilot reported an engine failure.
Ehlers said four trailers were heavily involved in the fire, with one containing the small plane inside of it.
The FAA said that at this time “it is not yet known how many more people were on board. “
In a later update, Chief Ehler showed the fatalities from the crash, but gave a figure.
The Chief said fire crews are still working to put out hotspots and find any victims inside the mobile home that the aircraft crashed into.
Chief Ehlers also asked the media to understand that they are working through a very complicated scene.
“A lot of agencies will be here and step in to help coordinate the investigation of what happened,” Ehlers said.
All other mobile homes were cleared and Ehlers said there were no victims inside of those and that all were able to get out.
“We have an injury that is secondary to the total incident, a user that we reject,” Ehlers said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived Friday morning to inspect the injured and said investigators would document the scene and read about the plane.
Afterward, the aircraft will be taken to a secure facility for further evaluation.
NTSB investigations focus on three main areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.
Investigators will collect the following and records:
All witnesses to the twist of fate or those who have surveillance video that could possibly be applicable to the investigation contact the NTSB in Witness@ntsb. gov.
“During the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident,” officials said. “The NTSB has no role in the release of the identities of accident victims and/or the extent and number of injuries nor does it release the identities of those injured or killed; that’s handled by local authorities.”
A preliminary report is expected to be available within 30 days.