CLEARWATER, Fla. – A tragic incident unfolded in a Florida mobile home park as a small plane crashed, claiming the lives of three individuals. The Clearwater Police Department confirmed the deaths and reported that the crash resulted in multiple units catching on fire.
According to an FAA report, the casualties included one crew member on the plane and two individuals on the ground. The emergency response teams were dispatched to the Bayside Waters community shortly after 7 p.m. following the devastating crash.
The pilot had issued a distress call to the St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport before the plane disappeared from radar, approximately 3 miles north of a runway. Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers stated that air traffic control had received a radio transmission from the pilot moments before the crash.
The single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza had departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park. Flight data retrieved from FlightAware confirmed the details of the ill-fated journey.
The impact of the crash was felt by a 72-year-old resident who was inside his mobile home at the time. He described hearing an “unbelievable roar” before being thrown to the floor amidst insulation and broken glass. The force of the crash destroyed his home and the adjacent trailer, but he miraculously survived.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the community mourns the loss of the lives taken in this tragic incident. The aftermath of the crash has left lasting devastation in the mobile home park and serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of life.