Authorities say a plane crash in Indian River County on Tuesday morning led to the tragic death of a student pilot.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the crash around 11:30 AM on Tuesday, March 5. It was reported that the plane disappeared shortly after takeoff. Authorities searched for the plane, and a Sheriff’s Office chopper located it in a wooded around 1:30 PM. The Florida Forest Service then had to dig a pathway to reach the remote crash site.
The plane, a Piper PA-28, had taken off from Vero Beach Regional Airport, bound for Palm Beach County Glades Airport in Pahokee, according to FAA records. The pilot was not immediately identified. However, Steve Phillips, the Vice President of Communications at FlightSchool Academy in Vero Beach, confirmed the pilot was one of their students.
Authorities have not yet determined how the plane crash occurred, but the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.
If there was negligence on the part of the flight school or plane manufacturer, the student pilot’s family could have grounds for a wrongful death case. The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. is dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Our attorneys have more than 170 years combined experience investigating and representing those who have suffered tragic loss or severe injuries.
If you know a surviving family member of a person who was killed in an auto or plane crash, please encourage them to call our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, and there is no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.