CLEARWATER, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is hard at work investigating what led up to a deadly plane crash Thursday evening in Clearwater.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration's preliminary report, the plane's pilot and two people on the ground were killed when the plane crashed into the Bayside Waters mobile home community. Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers confirmed four homes were damaged.
The NTSB identified the airplane as a Beechcraft V35 and said its investigation began at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, shortly after the plane went down.
According to a statement from the NTSB, an investigator from the agency arrived at the scene Friday morning to document and examine the plane, which will then be taken to a "secure facility for further evaluation."
Their investigation will focus on three areas: The pilot, the plane and the operating environment.
Here's what the NTSB said it will be using to conduct its investigation:
- Flight track data
- Recordings of any air traffic control communications
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
- Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience
- 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safely operate the flight
- Witness statements
- Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation
- Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras
The NTSB says a preliminary report will be available in the next 30 days. A final report is expected within a year to 24 months, which will include a probable cause of the crash.
The agency is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has surveillance video that could be useful to contact investigators at witness@ntsb.gov.