CLEARWATER, Fla. – A small plane crash in a Clearwater mobile home park claimed the lives of three people on Thursday, leading to a devastating fire that engulfed 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, as reported by the FAA.
Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers revealed that the pilot issued a distress call to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport before the plane disappeared from radar, approximately 3 miles north of a runway. The airport, located about 7 miles southeast of Clearwater, received a Mayday transmission from the pilot moments before the crash.
The single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza reportedly departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park. However, the aircraft tragically crashed into the mobile home park, leaving destruction in its wake. A 72-year-old resident recalled being jolted awake by a deafening roar and being thrown to the floor as the plane tore through his mobile home and the adjacent trailer.
The aftermath of the crash left a trail of devastation, amplifying the need for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the tragic accident and prevent similar incidents in the future. As the community mourns the loss of the victims, authorities will work to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash, offering closure and understanding to those affected by this unfortunate event.