Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort MyersSun and clouds with a stray shower possible
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
scene of the Clearwater small plane crash. CREDIT: CLEARWATER FIRE AND RESCUE Three people are dead following a small plane crashing into several mobile homes in Clearwater, just a few miles from the local airport. When firefighters got to the crash site, Thursday night, four trailers were engulfed by flames. The video shows the smoke billowing from the homes. RELATED: 3 deaths confirmed after small plane crashes into Clearwater mobile home park Flight reports indicate the Beechcraft V35B Bonanza left from Vero Beach Regional at 6:08 p.m., en route to Clearwater Air Park. However, the pilot reported engine failure less than an hour after takeoff. Shortly before the crash, the pilot was heard saying, “Mayday, mayday, mayday.” The cause of the crash remains unclear. However, a Bonanza is not a plane someone without experience would fly. The National Transportation Safety Board is still looking into what led that pilot to make the mayday call. The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot reported engine failure an hour into the flight. Ed Dean heard it, saw it, and, fearing the worst, began recording. “I can confirm there are multiple fatalities both in the aircraft and in the mobile home,” said Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers, at the scene of the crash. The victims’ identities, one in the plane and two in Clearwater’s Bayside Waters Mobile Home Park, have not been released. Clearwater Fire and Rescue said the fire spread to at least four of the trailers. “When airplanes come down, they come down where they come down,” said Lee Collins, the CEO of National Flight Training Alliance. Less than an hour after takeoff, the plane came crashing down just north of the Clearwater Air Park. Collins knows the area well, and it’s densely populated. “If you look at the ground tracks that they have from the radar, he was just about three-quarters of a mile from the shoreline of the Inner Harbor there,” said Collins, “so, turning to the left and landing on the water at night would have been a risky proposition, so the only opportunities then were to try to either make the airport or, as we say, hope for the best.” Collins and NFTA teach you to fly the plane until it stops moving. You go through your checklist and try to maintain control. We don’t know what led up to the mayday call, nor the pilot’s experience or background or what was happening in the cockpit. “What was primary on the pilot’s mind? Was he running through a checklist? Was he trying to get the engine restarted? He might have been doing certain things that made looking outside and judging between landing spots A, B or C probably not at the top of his list,” said Collins. Closer to SWFL, we have seen near misses. Small planes come down, and it is the worst-case scenario where they can’t land on the water or in an open field but around people.