CLEARWATER, Fla. – A tragic small plane crash in Clearwater, Florida resulted in the deaths of three individuals on Thursday when the aircraft crashed into a mobile home park, igniting a number of units, as reported by the Clearwater Police Department.
The FAA confirmed that one crew member on the plane and two individuals on the ground lost their lives in the devastating crash. The incident occurred in the Bayside Waters community, prompting emergency response teams to be dispatched shortly after 7 p.m.
According to Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers, the pilot issued a distress call to St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport just before the plane disappeared from radar, approximately 3 miles north of a runway, which is about 7 miles southeast of Clearwater. Eyewitnesses reported hearing the pilot’s Mayday transmission before the plane went down.
The aircraft, identified as a single-piston Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, had departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport around 6:08 p.m. and was scheduled to land at the small Clearwater Air Park, according to FlightAware data.
A 72-year-old Florida man narrowly escaped with his life when the crash tore through his mobile home, causing extensive damage and claiming the lives of his neighbors as well. The harrowing experience left him covered in insulation and broken glass after being thrown to the floor by the force of the impact.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash as the community mourns the loss of the three victims. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this devastating event.