Legal News for Florida Aviation Accident Attorneys. A pilot was killed in a small aircraft crash near the airport from which the plane departed.
Florida aviation accident lawyer alerts- NTSB, FAA to investigate plane crash that caused serious and fatal injuries.
Polk County, FL (News)—A single-engine plane crash left a flight instructor fatally injured and a student severely injured in Winter Haven, Florida on Thursday morning, February 25, 2010. The fatal aviation accident occurred approximately one mile away from Winter Haven Municipal Airport, where it initially took off, according to information provided by Tampa Bay Online.
According to authorities from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), a white 1974 Beech C23 aircraft departed from the Winter Haven Municipal Airport and allegedly lost power after reaching 300 feet. The small plane, piloted by an unidentified flight instructor, reportedly “touched down on the westbound lane of U.S. 92, then tried pulling up… The plane struck a pine tree.”
A motorist who was traveling east on U.S. 92 at approximately 9:30 a.m. noticed the plane coming down, allegedly believing at the time that it could have struck him. The driver, identified as Juan Jackson, apparently pulled over in an attempt to help any victims’ injured in the plane crash. He and police deputy Steve Valk responded to the scene to extricate two men from the wreckage. A defibrillator was used in an attempt to resuscitate the pilot. CPR maneuvers were also performed, though neither seemed to help, for the man no longer had a pulse. The pilot’s injuries seemingly proved fatal at the scene. Emergency medical services (EMS) crews responded to the scene to transport the unidentified student Lakeland Regional Medical Center to be treated by doctors and nurses for his life-threatening injuries. A white terrier mix, belonging to the pilot, was also reported aboard the plane when it crashed, though the dog did not suffer any serious injuries in the aviation accident.
Investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are reported underway.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Florida Aviation Accident Lawyers.