2 pilots found dead after witness reports mid-air collision in Edgewater

Crash happened near I-95 south, crews say

EDGEWATER, Fla. – Two people are dead following a crash involving two planes in Edgewater Saturday morning, the Edgewater Fire Department said.

Officials said a witness reported seeing two small planes collided near I-95 south and mile marker 244 around 8:45 a.m.

Crews responded and found both planes in a wooded area west of I-95 south.

Edgewater fire officials said two pilots were killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident did not cause any issues on I-95 in either direction.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office was at the scene to assist Edgewater police with the crash.

Edgewater police said the investigation has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board. Edgewater fire officials said the investigation will be ongoing for several days, and that Edgewater police will be securing the scene as it continues.

A woman who said she witnessed the crash shared what she saw on social media.

"That was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed. Very bad," the woman wrote.

The woman said she was driving on I-95 and saw multiple planes flying together when she saw two of the planes collide.

"Watched two hit, debris flying everywhere, watch both go down right next to us," she wrote.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration provided News 6 with a statement following the crash.

"A Cessna 170 aircraft and Grumman American AA5B aircraft collided about three miles north-northwest of Massey Airpark in New Smyrna Beach, FL, at 9 a.m. today," the spokeswoman wrote.  

She said the FAA is at the scene to begin the investigation, and the NTSB will determine probable cause.

Officials with the NTSB held a press conference Sunday afternoon.

During the conference, air safety investigator Tod Gunther said a witness reported seeing a formation flight pass over I-95 before the aircrafts collided. Two of the aircrafts collided, then landed in two separate locations, Gunther said.

He said the formation consisted of multiple planes that all came from Spruce Creek Airport.

Gunther said that as of right now, there is no indication that the aircrafts experienced powerplant failure, in-flight fire or explosion, control failure, or structural failure before the impact, but the incident remains under investigation.

The NTSB will likely be at the scene investigating for one to five days, and once the wreckage is removed from the site, it will be taken to NTSB to undergo a two-dimensional reconstruction, during which time officials will look for witness marks and paint transfers, Gunther said.

Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story.


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