Two people have died after a Lancair Evolution aircraft crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from Tampa Executive Airport in Hillsborough County, Florida.
The aircraft came down in a wooded area near US Highway 301 and Maislin Drive at about 8.17am on Thursday, 3 September, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reached the scene within minutes after emergency dispatchers received reports that a plane had gone down. Firefighters found the aircraft engulfed in flames and extinguished the blaze in less than 10 minutes.
The only people on board were killed. Authorities identified the pilot as David Siambanes, 59, and the passenger as Dawn Stone, 53. Their next of kin have been informed.
Hillsborough County plane crash investigation
The crash site was about half a mile from Tampa Executive Airport. Fire officials said the aircraft had not travelled far into the woodland, allowing crews to reach it quickly despite the extensive damage.
Rob Herrin, of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, said the position of the wreckage meant emergency crews could tackle the fire without having to navigate deep undergrowth or other obstacles.
Hillsborough County chief deputy Joseph Maurer described the deaths as a tragedy for the victims’ families, while Sheriff Chad Chronister said investigators would work with federal agencies to establish what happened.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Lancair Evolution. It reported that two people had been on board and confirmed that the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board would investigate, with the NTSB leading the inquiry.
The cause of the crash has not been established. Officials have not said whether mechanical problems, weather or any other factor played a part.
Flight-tracking records indicated that a Lancair Evolution left Tampa Executive Airport at about 8.14am and was listed as heading for Elizabeth City Regional Airport in North Carolina, although investigators have not publicly confirmed whether those records relate to the aircraft that crashed.
Stone was an employee of AdventHealth, which said she was a valued member of its staff who had dedicated herself to caring for others. Siambanes was a spine surgeon with the Bonati Spine Institute, which said he had treated children with severe cerebral palsy and scoliosis.
The NTSB and FAA are continuing their investigation. The FAA said a preliminary report was expected to be released on Friday, 4 September.
