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On Feb. 1 a Beechcraft V35B Bonanza (N6659L) crashed into a mobile park home in Clearwater, Florida, killing the pilot and two people on the ground. According to witnesses, the pilot was unable to find his destination airport and his final transmission was that he was losing an engine.RELATED STORY:Bonanza crashes into Florida mobile home park, killing 3
The NTSB preliminary report stated that Bonanza departed the Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB) in Vero Beach, Florida on an instrument flight rules flight plan for the Clearwater Air Park (CLW) the evening of the crash. When the flight was roughly 4.1 nautical miles east-southeast from the runway 34 displaced threshold at CLW, the pilot canceled his IFR clearance. He was advised by air traffic control that radar services were terminated and he proceeded under visual flight rules. Two individuals at CLW told investigators the pilot broadcast on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency that he could not find the airport, asking them to turn on runway lights which were already on from a plane that had just landed. After the pilot requested the lights be turned on a second time, the pilot-controlled runway lighting was changed to the highest intensity. Both individuals reported hearing the pilot announce that he had a fire, but the plane's location at this time was not determined and the CTAF was not recorded.
The VFR flight proceeded west of CLW and then turned to a northwesterly heading nearly parallel to runway 34. The flight continued on a northwesterly heading north of CLW, then the pilot turned left and continued on a southeasterly heading. The plane was west of CLW 1,100 ft msl when a squawk 7700 transponder code was displayed on the controller's scope. Shortly after, the plane was flying at 1,300 ft msl and the pilot said "Nine five lima" and "coming to Albert Whitted I can't see the other airport." The controller told the pilot that the flight was one mile south of CLW, asking if he could turn to heading 180 degrees and maintain the present altitude. The pilot told the controller, "I'm losing engine," and the controller asked the pilot if he could see the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) three miles ahead of his position. The controller also advised the pilot that runways 18/36 were available at PIE, but there were no further transmissions from the pilot.
A nearby pilot reported seeing the Bonanza in a 30 to 40-degree nose-low descent, describing it as "like an uncontrolled descent." He said that while the plane descended he saw a "very bright light" descending very fast to impact. Another witness with a passenger in a car northwest of the crash site reported seeing the plane flying ahead from west to east but did not hear any sound. The witness in the car did report seeing a "fireball" or something on fire while the plane was airborne, before the impact. The prelim said she did not identify the object as a plane at the time, but described the fire as a round fireball with a white cone in the front portion. The pilot flying nearby saw the impact and reported it to air traffic control.
The NTSB prelim states that numerous videos from commercial businesses west of the crash site depicted a light descending steeply with sounds associated with engine operation, then a fireball. The videos have been sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for further review.
The Bonanza crashed into the mobile home park, igniting four trailer homes. The Clearwater Fire andamp; Rescue Department said that as many as nine people were inside the mobile home before the crash, but all but two had left the residence. ABC News reported that the pilot was 54-year-old Jemin Patel of Melbourne Beach. Fox 13 News reported that the plane made direct impact with the home of 86-year-old Martha Perry, killing her and 54-year-old Mary Ellen Pender. The plane had made a direct impact with Perry's home and the fire spread to three neighboring homes, but the residents were able to evacuate safely.
The NTSB said the "extensively heat damaged and impact fragmented wreckage" was secured for further examination. A final report will be released one to two years after the crash, including additional data, photos, video, witness statements, airplane maintenance records and registration, pilot information and records, as well as probable cause if one is determined.