WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Authorities are beginning to fix the damage to a Winter Haven home from a plane crashing into it Saturday afternoon.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office said the UC-1 Twin SeaBee plane had taken off from Gilbert Airport, which is across the road from the home. The crash killed James Wagner, the instructor pilot, and injured student pilot Timothy Sheehy and 17-year-old Carmelle Ngalamulume, who was in teh house, pinned to the wall of her room by the plane.
Sheehy suffered minor injuries and was able to exit the plane on his own and Ngalamulume was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Family members of the pilot killed said the Air Force veteran had a big heart and he loved flying. They said he had more than 50 years of flying experience.
"He was just the best man I've ever met," said Wagner's son-in-law Luis Nunez. "He would have given his life for him in a heartbeat. He was just that kind of person."
Investigators said the plane somehow lost power after taking off from the Winter Haven Airport.
Polk County Sheriff's Investigators said Wagner's goal on board was teaching a trainee how to deal with engine failures and emergencies on board. It's unclear if that ever happened or if that played a factor in the crash.
Wagner's family said he's their forever hero.
"He was that kind of dad that you see on TV that you didn't think existed, that was Jim," said Nunez.
Family members said they're happy no one else was seriously hurt.
"The fact that the trainee survived and everyone in that house survived, he wouldn't have wanted it any other way," said Nunez.
Neighbors saw and heard the crash and were shocked.
"I just heard the noise and I said what the heck is that," said neighbor Evan LaBlanc.
A crane began lifting the plane out, tail end first, Sunday morning. A crowd gathered to watch the transport unfold.
Watch News 6 reporter Amanda Castro's Facebook Live video of the plane's removal.
Winter Haven plane crash removal
Posted by News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando on Sunday, February 24, 2019
Local pilot John Reed came by to take a look at the damage as a bystander. He thinks the plane likely came from a flight training school based out of the nearby airport.
Authorities said Wagner and Sheehy were attempting to practice how to safely pilot a plane in the case of engine failure. Reed said any problems with the exercise would have been frightening for anyone.
"It's just hard to guess what caused this," he said. "Any time a plane goes down, it's a sad day for us pilots and the community."
Officials from both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating the crash to determine its ultimate cause.