Pilot’s heartbreaking last words before fatal crash
A radio traffic recording has revealed the final words of a pilot minutes before his aircraft went down.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday (14 November) a single-engine private plane crashed in Paynes Prairie State Preserve Park, south of Gainesville, Florida at around 2:00pm.
In a statement released on Wednesday (15 November), the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the Piper PA-28 plane had crashed and the pilot sadly passed away as a result.
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The pilot had bought the plane on 31 October, two weeks before his final flight, according to WUFT. And as per PEOPLE, he was the only person on board the aircraft when it crashed.
The plane took off from Kissimmee Gateway Airport at about 12:45pm, the pilot warned just before to momentarily hold taking off for 'visual flight rules' - pilots anticipated as being safe to fly, clear of clouds, if they remain at a minimum of 1,000 feet above the ground.
"It looks like it’s updating now to be not IFR, showing a few (clouds) at 800 (feet)," the air controller said. "So, if you stand by a minute or two we’ll be VFR."
The plane took off minutes later and flew towards Gainesville.
In a post to Facebook, Alachua County Sheriff said the Combined Communications Center (CCC) received calls from Micanopy residents reporting 'hearing a plane losing altitude and then a loud boom sound'.
It adds: "About the same time, CCC also received calls from the Jacksonville and Gainesville Towers reporting losing radar contact with a plane on the radar screen over Paynes Prairie State Park."
The plane's radar track recorded the aircraft taking a series of sharp turns in overcast weather - visibility at one mile - at around 2:00pm.
WUFT reports the pilot climbing to around 6,800 feet before telling an air traffic controller: "I’m losing altitude. I don’t think I can hold my altitude without descending.
"How many miles am I from Gainesville?"
He also told the air traffic controller to tell his parents he loved them.
Alachua County Sheriff states: "Multiple deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) responded to the area immediately and established a Command Post to centralize operations. Deputies from multiple units and specialty teams conducted a meticulous grid search with ACFR assistance. Air assets were not able to deploy due to weather conditions. At the time it was cloudy, raining and visibility was poor.
"Around 5:15 p.m. the wreckage of a small, single engine plane was located in a wooded area within the park. One individual on board died at the scene. The Medical Examiners Office will assist in identifying the pilot.
"The scene was secured overnight by deputies and will be turned over to the FAA/NTSB for investigation this morning. At that time we will transition to assisting the lead agency with their investigation."
The FAA said the plane crashed in 'unknown circumstances' and the investigation is ongoing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: Travel, Mental Health, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck