Three Killed After Small Plane Crashes Into Lake Harney

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 15, 2017

A little over a week ago, an airplane flying through the Lake Harney area was preparing to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when something occurred to cause the small craft to crash. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane, a Connection900 BE-9L, was nearing the county line separating Seminole and Volusia counties when the incident took place that sent the plane out of control and Lake Harney itself.

The report from deputies with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office indicates that the plane had initially taken off from L3 Airline Academy, a well-known flight school located in Sanford. Inside the plane were three individuals: the pilot, 56-year-old Sanford resident Naik, and his two passengers: the 22-year-old Tao and the 23-year-old Xupeng, both of whom were also residents of Sanford.

It is not clear whether or not any of the individuals aboard the plane were students of L3 Airline Academy or if this was simply a chartered flight to enjoy the scenery of Florida, but either way it ended in disaster as the force of the plane coming into contact with the water took the lives of all three people. It is believed that this took place shortly before 7:00 in the evening, close to where Lake Harney Woods Boulevard intersects with Morgan Alderman Road.

Residents in Lake Harney reported being able to hear a loud roaring sound as the plane passed either over their heads or close to their heads. The roar of the engine was followed by a crashing sound as the plane landed in the water.

Emergency services were called in and divers began to try and reach the sinking plane as well as anyone who may have survived the crash. It took several hours before the divers declared the scene totally examined. As mentioned above, none of the three people on the plane survived.

Agents with the Federal Aviation Administration began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, and this investigation is ongoing. At the time of this writing, no new updates have been given.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.