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2 Die In Highlands Plane Crash

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: December 14, 2008

SEBRING - Two men died Saturday when a light aircraft broke up and crashed onto a golf course west of Sebring, officials said.

Witnesses reported seeing at least three sections of the plane falling, as well as two people.

"I saw stuff falling from the sky," said Adam Smehyl, who lives in a subdivision behind the Golf Hammock community.

Killed in the morning crash were pilot James Weener, 70, and passenger James Richer, 46.
Weener was a retired missionary. Richer lived in Golf Hammock, according to Highlands County sheriff's Lt. Tim Lethbridge.

The wreckage fell among trees near the 10th, 12th and 14th fairways, witnesses said. A wing fell behind a two-story house on Lost Ball Drive.

Bill Petitt said he saw a cloud of black smoke and heard the plane's engine revving. The plane started coming apart, with pieces falling to the ground.

Paige Moffat, 16, of Avon Park, said she was taking lessons on the driving range when she heard a strange sound. At first, trees blocked her view, but then she saw something low in the sky and three pieces of the airplane falling.

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