‘Several’ dead after small plane crashes into Clearwater mobile home park, officials say

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — “Several” people died Thursday night after a small plane crashed into a Clearwater mobile home park after the pilot reported an engine failure, according to officials.

There were deaths in both the plane and one of the mobile homes, Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers said. Officials have not specified how many died.

The plane crashed at about 7 p.m. in the Bayside Waters mobile home park south of Clearwater Mall, officials said. The area was previously known as Japanese Gardens Mobile Home Park.

The plane involved is a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot reported an engine failure before the crash.

The plane disappeared from the radar three miles off the runway at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Ehlers said. It’s unknown if that airport was the plane’s destination.

Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers said there were four homes “heavily involved,” with one home that was hit by the plane.

Ehlers said everyone else in the other homes got out safe.

“A mobile home doesn’t withstand much in the first place, so the aircraft pretty much demolished it,” Ehlers said. “The fire consumed the rest.”

Officials were not expected to hold any additional news conferences on Thursday night.

Officials from the FAA were at the crash location with firefighters and police officers, who expect to be remain there overnight.