LAKE WORTH, Fla. – The pilot who died when his plane crashed into homes in South Florida was the owner of Machine Gun America, an attraction in Kissimmee, according to a company spokesman.
Dan Shalloway, co-founder of the the facility that allows customers to fire real machine guns, died in the crash, which occurred Tuesday in Lake Worth, according to a statement from Alan Byrd.
"Everyone at Machine Gun America is deeply saddened by the tragic events of (Tuesday) that took the life of our co-founder, Dan Shalloway," the statement said. "Dan loved to fly, was an engineer by trade, actively involved in politics and passionate about his community. Our utmost sympathy is expressed for his wife Lisa, his daughter Gina, and his son Erik; and the family of Banny Galicia, who also lost her life. All of us at Machine Gun America will deeply miss Dan."
Domingo Gallecia said his daughter, Banny, was inside one of the mobile homes destroyed in the crash. He said when managed to open her locked bedroom door, a massive fire pushed him back.
"Everything already happened," he said. "I couldn't do anything. Many friends came. Many people came, but nothing could be done," Gallecia said.
Earlier Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Dan Boggs confirmed that two people died when the Cherokee 180 crashed into the Mar-Mak Colony Club about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The plane, owned by Flyers Inc., departed from Orlando.
Boggs said investigators have found no records of any emergency or distress calls from the pilot prior to the crash.