(Daily360.com) – A small aircraft crashed into a trailer park in Clearwater, Florida on Thursday, February 1, killing three people. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a Beechcraft Bonanza V35 private aircraft crashed into the residential community at around 7 p.m. that evening.
Fire departments and other first responders from nearby areas all made their way to the crash site to contain the resulting fire and see to injured people. Three people, including the airplane’s pilot, have been confirmed dead. The pilot, who was the only person on board the aircraft, was killed along with two people on the ground at the crash site.
The community known as Bayside Waters mobile home park is located just south of the Clearwater Mall off U.S. highway 19. The collision resulted in a large fire stemming from the fuel that powered the home. Scott Ehlers, the Clearwater Fire Chief, said the fire spread quickly to three other homes and potentially also damaged a fourth. He describes the homes as “definitely” having serious fire-related damage.
Ehlers confirmed they located the aircraft within one of the burned out homes and also confirmed the two residents killed were inside the home when the airplane hit. Video taken at Bayside Waters show an immense red fire filling the night sky as firefighters worked to contain and snuff it out. Ehlers said the fire was put out quickly once crews arrived and were able to combat it. Despite the damage and two deaths Ehlers said all things considered he would have expected more damage and perhaps more fatalities. He said that a crash in an area that dense would be expected to produce more fatalities and property destruction, and that the surrounding residents were “very fortunate” that it was as contained.
The FAA confirmed the pilot of the airplane reported engine failure prior to the crash. They say he departed from Florida’s Vero Regional Airport that afternoon and was headed to Clearwater Airpark. Neighbors to the mobile home park describe hearing a “loud bang” and feeling vibrations.
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