Two Dead After Small Plane Crashes Near Orlando

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 2, 2015

Two people, a man in his 50s and a female teen, who may be father and daughter though they have not yet been identified, died on the morning of November 20th when a small airplane they were traveling in crashed into a southwest Orlando lake. The plane took off from Orlando Executive Airport shortly after 11:15 a.m., only five miles away from the crash site in Clear Lake, a roughly 300-acre lake off Rio Grande Avenue. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene and were the only two people on board, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. It’s estimated that were in the air for only 15 minutes or less.

Demings said the Beechcraft Bonanza was headed to Gainesville, Texas, and is registered in Montana. It crashed in about 12 to 15 feet of water not far from the east shore near Duchess Drive. Several boaters and kayakers who were on the water when the plane went down rushed to help, but weren’t able to reach the victims. Orlando firefighters were next to reach the submerged plane, where several crew members dove down and pulled the man and teen out, but neither could be saved. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash, and The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is handling the death investigation.

Aviation accidents are not common, but when they occur the results are nearly always disastrous. While travel on commercial airlines are statistically regarded as one of the safest means of transportation available, there can be a significant decrease in safety when flying on private planes where the pilots training and experience may be lacking, or the plane hasn’t received proper inspection or maintenance. After every plane crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts a comprehensive investigation to determine the probable cause of the crash.

The causes of airplane accidents vary widely but defective parts, failure to perform appropriate maintenance, and pilot error are three of the most common causes of aviation accidents.

It takes an experienced aviation accident attorney to handle the complexities associated with accidents such as these. Even in the event of death, there is usually recoverable compensation for the victim’s family members. In one case, Orlando aviation accident Attorney James O. Cunningham recovered $1.7 million for a family with a wrongful death claim associated with a plane crash.

If you or someone you know was affected by an aviation accident, contact our Orlando personal injury law firm at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

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.