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3 deaths confirmed after small plane crashes into Clearwater mobile home park

Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
plane crash
scene of the Clearwater small plane crash. CREDIT: CLEARWATER FIRE AND RESCUE

A pilot and two people on the ground died after a small plane crashed into a mobile home park just south of the Clearwater Mall Thursday night.

On Friday, the FAA confirmed the pilot of a Beechcraft V35B and two people on the ground died in the crash.

They also called the crash an accident and believe engine failure caused, though details remain unknown.

According to the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department, several fatalities have been confirmed from the aircraft and from inside a mobile home.

The Clearwater Police Department also spoke about the deadly plane crash. When police arrived at the scene, they secured the area, rescued victims and helped to put out the fire.

The police chief explained they approach these scenes as “serious traffic crashes,” or “one of our traffic homicide crashes.”

Since the police department was at the scene before the Federal Aviation Administration, they are tasked with keeping the “integrity” of the scene.

The police chief explained, “Clearly, local law enforcement doesn’t determine causality and causation with aircraft crashes.”

Three mobile homes caught on fire after the small plane crashed into one of the homes, said Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers.

The chief said four trailers at the mobile home park were heavily involved in the small plane crash. Crews quickly put those fires out.

Crews are investigating exactly what plane crashed as well as anyone else who was potentially on board the aircraft.

Authorities are also investigating if anyone was inside any of the mobile homes involved in the crash.

The other mobile homes are considered safe.

The call for the crash came in shortly after 7 p.m., and crews arrived seven minutes later.

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