February 2nd 2024.
On a quiet Thursday evening in Clearwater, Florida, tragedy struck when a small plane, a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35, crash-landed at the Bayside Waters mobile home park. The impact caused a fire to break out, engulfing several residences in flames. Fire Chief Scott Ehlers reported that the incident occurred around 7pm, shortly after the pilot had sent out a distress signal to the nearby St Pete-Clearwater International Airport. The plane disappeared from the radar just three miles away from the airport runway.
As soon as the fire was reported, firefighters and emergency response teams rushed to the scene at 7:15pm. They found four homes already ablaze, but were able to quickly extinguish the fire within seven minutes. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done, and the pilot as well as two individuals from the mobile home park lost their lives in the crash.
The plane had crashed into a double-wide mobile home, causing it to burst into flames. Fire Chief Ehlers described the scene as the aircraft being "found in the one structure". One resident of the mobile home park, 72-year-old Joe Miller, recalled being awoken by a loud and terrifying noise. He was thrown to the floor and injured by shattered glass and insulation. Despite the door of his trailer being on fire, Miller managed to escape and survive. He expressed his gratitude, saying "I just know I'm lucky to be here."
The crash also caused damage to three other homes in the park, but fortunately, no one inside was harmed. The identities of those who lost their lives have not yet been released. Nearby resident Steven Ascari, who lives in an apartment complex, recounted hearing what he thought was a car accident and went outside to investigate. He was shocked to see the mobile home park engulfed in flames. "I've never seen a fire like that. Ever," he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. This incident comes just weeks after another tragic plane crash, where a surgeon and his two young sons were killed near the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by these devastating events.
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