Small plane crashes into Florida trailer park, killing several

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.

A small plane crashed into a Florida trailer park on Thursday, causing several homes to catch fire and killing several people, according to NASA. British Broadcasting Corporation. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 crashed at the Bayside Waters mobile home park south of the Clearwater Mall. Air traffic control heard the pilot calling for help before he disappeared. It’s unclear how many people were on board, but the crash resulted in “the deaths of multiple people on board the aircraft and inside the mobile home,” according to the Clearwater Fire Rescue Department.

The fire department shared video of the crash scene on X. It showed wreckage strewn across the street. “We are on the scene of a small plane crash at a mobile home park south of the Clearwater Mall. Multiple mobile homes are on fire. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions are on scene,” the post’s caption read.

We are at the scene of a small plane crash at a mobile home park south of the Clearwater Mall. Several mobile homes caught fire. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions are on scene. pic.twitter.com/1vBLnTnY8R

— Clearwater Fire Rescue Department (@clearwaterfire) February 2, 2024

Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers told reporters that four tow trucks were “heavily involved,” including one that was struck by a small aircraft. He said the fire “was put out very quickly.”

In addition, according to the fire chief, three of the houses were searched and no victims were found. Residents were inside the plane when it crashed but were eventually able to escape to safety, Ehlers added.

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Investigators are still trying to gain access to the trailer, which was directly hit by the plane. The pilot is believed to be dead, officials said.

Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that the plane, a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35, reported an “engine failure” shortly before the crash. “It is unclear how many people were on board,” the statement added.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the accident.