The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to Sanford, Florida today to investigate an accident in which an aircraft crashed into a residential area killing the two occupants of the airplane. There are also reports of fatalities and injuries on the ground.
About 8:35 am today, the pilot of the Cessna 310, which was en route from Daytona to Lakeland, Florida, reported smoke in the cockpit, declared an emergency, and was attempting to land at Orlando Sanford International Airport when the airplane crashed into houses. Three homes were damaged in the immediate area impacted by the aircraft.
NTSB investigator Brian Rayner has been designated Investigator-in-Charge of the 8-member team. NTSB Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt will accompany the team and serve as principal spokesperson for the on-scene investigation. Peter Knudson will be the press officer on-scene.
The NTSB team will arrive in Sanford later today. Once in Florida, Mr. Knudson can be reached on his cell phone at 202-557-1350.
NTSB Public Affairs, (202) 314-6100
