Three die in Palm Coast plane crash

A 1957 Bonanza H35 was declared a total loss; the pilot and two other occupants have been declared dead at the scene, after the private aircraft crashed into a home at 22 Utica Path in the Seminole Woods Subdivision of Palm Coast at about 2:19 p.m. this afternoon.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol and Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected at the scene this evening and will continue their investigation in the morning.

“Preliminary information indicates that the plane was traveling from Fort Pierce on its way to Knoxville, Tennessee,” a Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson in Jacksonville told Historic City News. “The pilot reported having engine trouble, saw smoke, and then entered an area of bad weather.”

One resident of the home, Susan Crockett, was in her bedroom at the time of the crash. She was able to escape through a window; then was treated at Florida Hospital Flagler and released.

“It appears the plane made a steep decent prior to crashing into the roof of the home,” FHP Lieutenant Justin Asbury told reporters. “A fire ensued and consumed the remainder of the plane and a great portion of the house.” At the scene, only portions of the wing remained.

The names of the victims have been withheld pending notification of the families. Results of the postmortem examination will be required to determine if alcohol was a factor in the crash. The aircraft was registered in the British Virgin Islands according to preliminary information available.