CLEARWATER, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating Thursday night's small plane into a Clearwater mobile home park that left three people dead.  

What You Need To Know

  • Three people were killed Thursday evening when a small plane crashed into a mobile home park

According to the FAA, one person in the plane was killed and two people on the ground died in the crash. The small plane crashed at Bayshore Waters Mobile Home Park just after 7 p.m., causing multiple homes to catch on fire, officials said.

Of the three people killed, one was in the plane, the other two were inside a home.

They have been identified as Martha Parry, 86; Mary Ellen Pender, 54; and Jemin Patel, 54. 

Dozens of first responders arrived to the Bayside Waters mobile home park at 2636 Teakwood Drive, just off U.S. 19 and south of the Clearwater Mall.

Officials said the plane took off from Vero Beach and witnesses at the mobile home park reported hearing sputtering sounds from the plane before the crash. Clearwater Police, Fire Rescue and the FAA all responded to the scene Thursday night.

Spectrum Bay News 9 obtained the audio recording of the pilot reaching out to airport controllers.

"I can't see the airport," the pilot said.

Clearwater Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Ehlers said the department received a report of a structure fire at the mobile home park at about 7:08 p.m.

"Simultaneously, there was a report of an aircraft having an emergency at the airport," he said.

When firefighters arrived at 7:15 p.m., Ehlers said they found four mobile homes were heavily involved in the fire. Three of the buildings were cleared and no injuries were reported in connection with them.

Clearwater Police said that as many as nine people were in the fourth home before the plane crash, but only two remained inside when the plane crashed into it.

"Our thoughts are with the three victims and their families, this tragedy could have been even worse," said Police Chief Eric Gandy.

People who live in the community say it's like a family, and they are still in shock over what happened.

“I feel sad because I really liked (one of the residents), she was a very nice lady, the whole community is saddened and upset that this happened,” Bayside Waters resident Rick Renner.

The wreckage is expected to be removed by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. 

 

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