- Ellen Kirkland
- Piper Cherokee Crashes at Vinoy Point in St. Pete
Breaking: A single-engine Piper Cherokee airplane crashed within feet of the posh Stouffer-Vinoy Hotel and adjacent condominiums in St. Pete around 10:00 AM on Monday. The crash was caused by engine trouble, according to witnesses at the scene. There was a loud noise, followed by sputtering seconds before the crash.
Three adults and one teenager survived the impact.
- Ellen Kirkland
- FAA Examiners Inspect Crash Site
The pilot, Grant Jordon, 57, and a passenger, Aloysius Ryan, 52, are currently listed in serious condition at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Eamonn Harnell, 48, and an unidentified 17-year-old girl, received only minor injuries and were treated at the scene. The pilot and passengers are reported to be from Ireland.
The plane, which was on a southbound flight path over downtown St. Pete, had just been cleared to land at Albert Whitted Airport when the pilot reported engine problems to controllers.
The plane's left wing was torn from the plane by nearby trees as was the landing gear.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, which was doing training exercises at North Shore Pool, immediately responded to the crash.
Federal Aviation Administration investigators are currently at the site.
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2014.