CLEARWATER, Fla. – A tragic event unfolded in a Florida mobile home park as a small plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and causing multiple units to catch fire. The Clearwater Police Department confirmed the fatalities, with one crew member from the plane and two individuals on the ground losing their lives in the incident.
Following the crash, emergency response crews were dispatched to the Bayside Waters community around 7 p.m. The pilot had reportedly communicated an emergency to St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport shortly before the plane disappeared from radar, approximately 3 miles north of a runway. Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers provided this information, noting that the airport is located about 7 miles southeast of Clearwater.
According to FlightAware data, the single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza plane had departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park. This tragic event unfolded as a 72-year-old Florida man was thrown to the floor of his mobile home, narrowly surviving the impact of the crash that destroyed his residence and the neighboring trailer.
The devastating nature of the incident has deeply impacted the Bayside Waters community and the broader Clearwater area, leaving residents and local officials grappling with the aftermath of this tragedy. The loss of life and destruction caused by the small plane crash serve as a stark reminder of the unexpected dangers that can befall communities. As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this heartbreaking event.