Fatal Ocala Plane Crash Claims the Lives of Two, Injures Another

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 4, 2019

Two people were killed and another injured this past Thursday, October 31st, 2019, when the aircraft they were flying suffered a mechanical malfunction, which then caused the plane to crash onto State Road 200 and collide with a vehicle that had been traveling along the highway.

According to the Ocala Police Department operating within Marion County, this fatal aviation accident occurred at approximately 11:30 Halloween morning. The small aircraft, a 1996 Beechcraft Model 58 to be exact, had just undergone routine repairs and departed the Ocala International Airport carrying just the pilot and the mechanic for a maintenance flight in order to ensure that everything was operating correctly. Shortly after leaving the airport, air traffic control was contacted by the pilot requesting an immediate “return to field.” It has been reported that this was not a distress call.

Lawrence McCarter, an investigator assigned to this case, released the following statement to the media: “We have several credible witnesses who state that the aircraft flew out over the mall here and took a left shallow turn back toward the airport.” Unfortunately, they were unable to reach it in time. On its fatal descension, the plane destroyed utility power lines and slid into a gold SUV before finally coming to a stop near Southwest 43rd Court.

Emergency response teams dispatched to the accident stated that the airplane was “completely engulfed in flames” upon arrival, and that both the pilot and the mechanic were declared dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV was transported to the local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and was said to be in stable condition as of that evening.

“We are going to be here for the better part of the day, documenting the wreckage, we are paying particular interest. Emphasis on the engines. We are going to be transporting the entire vehicle to Jacksonville, a secure storage facility, where we can work in controlled conditions,” according to National Transportation Safety Board inspector Aaron McCarter. Initial reports have since been released by the NTSB which indicate an issue with the aircraft’s fuel monitoring unit.

For over forty years, Orlando plane crash attorney James O. Cunningham has been representing the victims & families aviation accidents. To schedule a free initial consultation, please contact our firm today at 877-FL-INJURY.

Sources:

• NTSB: Ocala plane was on maintenance flight before deadly crash along highway
• UPDATE: Investigators release new details regarding a plane crash that killed two people yesterday in Ocala
• 2 dead, 1 injured after small plane crashes into SUV in Florida
• 2 people die when plane hits SUV, crashes in Ocala

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.