Winter Have, Fla. — Two small planes collided in midair over a central Florida lake Tuesday afternoon, killing the 4 folks in them, authorities stated.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stated Tuesday night time that their our bodies had been positioned. "It's not a search and rescue operation, however a restoration operation," he stated.
He stated one of many planes concerned was a Cherokee Piper 161 carrying Religion Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven, a pilot/flight teacher with Dawn Aviation and Zachary Jean Mace, 19, of Winter Haven, a pupil at Polk State Faculty.
Judd stated the opposite was a Piper J-3 Cub with Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and one different particular person on board.
"Deputies are working to substantiate the id of a fourth deceased particular person. ... As soon as a optimistic identification has been made, and subsequent of kin notification has been made, we are going to launch the id," he stated.
The J-3 is a float airplane.
"My coronary heart goes out to the households and pals of those that had been killed in right this moment's crash," Judd added. "The NTSB and FAA can be investigating the trigger and circumstances of the collision. Please hold the households in your prayers throughout this troublesome and traumatic time."
Deputies stated earlier it wasn't recognized the place the planes had taken off from or what brought on the crash. Lake Hartridge, in Winter Haven, the place the planes went down, is straight away southeast of the Winter Haven Regional Airport. Winter Haven is about 40 miles southwest of Orlando.
Witnesses recalled the planes crashing into one another after which instantly falling into the water, Polk County Sheriff's Workplace Chief of Employees Steve Lester stated.
The wing of 1 airplane was protruding of the water, whereas the opposite plane had settled about 21 toes under the floor, officers stated.