Firefighters work to put out a fire after a small plane crashed into the Bayside Waters mobile home park in Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 1, 2024.Photo:Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty
Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty
Federal investigators say that asmall plane crashed into a Florida mobile home park last monthafter the pilot was unable to find the airport.
Pilot Jemin Patel, 54; resident Martha Parry, 87; and Mary Ellen Pender, 54, who was visiting Parry’s Clearwater mobile home, died in the Feb. 1 incident,authorities said at the time.
The report said two people at the Clearwater Airpark told investigators that Patel said he couldn’t find the airport and had asked them to turn on the runway lights — though they were already on.
The small plane crashed at a mobile home park in Clearwater, Fla. on Feb. 1, 2023.Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department/X
Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department/X
“They also stated that after the pilot requested a second time to turn the runway lights on, the pilot-controlled runway lighting was changed to the highest intensity,” the report added. “Both individuals then heard the pilot announce he had a ‘fire.'”
Patel eventually announced he would attempt to land at Albert Whitted Airport since he couldn’t find the CLW, per the NTSB. But he then said he was “losing engine.”
The air traffic controller asked Patel if he could see St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, which was three miles ahead of him, but there was no additional communication.
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“The remains of the extensively heat damaged and impact fragmented wreckage was secured for further examination,” the NTSB said.
source: people.com
