Clearwater plane crash victims identified

Officials identified Martha Parry, aged 68, from Clearwater, and Mary Ellen Ponder, aged 54, from Treasure Island, as the individuals affected on the ground. Ponder was present at the residence during the incident.

The pilot involved was identified as Jemin Patel, aged 54, hailing from Melbourne Beach.

Original Report: Three victims have been found deceased following Thursday night’s plane crash – two inside the mobile home and one inside the plane.

Identification of those victims, along with cause of death, will be up to the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office.

As many as nine people had been inside the mobile home on Pagoda Drive shortly before the plane crash, but all but two had left the residence.

“Our thoughts are with the three victims and their families; this tragedy could have been even worse,” said Police Chief Eric Gandy.

The plane, a Beechcraft V35, had taken off from Vero Beach earlier in the day. The police department will continue to maintain the scene into Saturday, when the wreckage is expected to be removed by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The police department will provide an update on the identity of the victims once positive identification has been made and relatives have been notified. Any questions related to the investigation into the crash itself should be directed to the Federal Aviation Administration or the NTSB. No further media briefings are planned.