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Local Citrus Grower Mason Smoak Dies In Small-Plane Crash

Tribune photo by KATHY WATERS

Mason Smoak and David Maehr were conducting aerial surveys of Highlands County black bears when the crash happened.

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By JOE SEELIG and BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: June 20, 2008

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  Mason Smoak

  David Maehr

LAKE PLACID — A pilot and passenger died after a fixed-wing, single-engine Piper Cub airplane crashed near Placid Lakes Airport at about 12:15 p.m., Friday said Capt. Paul Blackman of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

There were no other passengers in the single-plane crash.

Word spread like wildfire around the Caladium Capital of the World that citrus grover owner Mason Smoak was flying the plane. Blackman positively identified Smoak as the pilot, and David Maehr's name was released later as the other victim in the crash. He was a visiting scientist at Archbold Biological Center, specializing in bear research.

According to a news release from the Archbold center, Smoak and Maehr were conducting aerial surveys of Highlands County black bears when the crash happened.

Within 150 feet of the police tape used to cordon off Seneca Drive, at least a dozen family members and friends gathered in a prayer circle less than two hours after the tragedy occurred.

Gray clouds stood overhead as thunder rumbled in the distance where a rainstorm had recently passed.

Blackman said the wreckage was "straight up and down," and that several people witnessed the crash.

"The plane came out of the sky and went straight into the earth," Blackman said witnesses told him. "It apparently stalled, did a 360 and went straight down."

Smoak was serving as both the president of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association and the Chairman of the Heartland Agricultural Coalition.

Family friend Matt Elliott was at the scene comforting Smoak's wife. He stepped away from the family and talked about Smoak.

"I flew with him a bunch of times," Elliott said. "He was an outstanding pilot. He was a great dad, a great husband and a great friend. This is a tragedy for Lake Placid."

Town councilman Charlie Wilson was at the site and talked about Smoak and his wife Tracee. Smoak was the father of two boys and a girl.

"If there was ever two people in love, it was them," Wilson said.

Town councilman Ray Royce remembered Smoak.

"We lost a truly great guy and a lot of people lost a good friend," Royce said. "He was one of those guys who puts a smile on your face.

"The most important thing is that Mason was a great father, husband, son and friend. He will be truly missed in our local and agricultural community."

Maehr was on sabbatical from the University of Kentucky, where he was an associate professor of conservation biology. He was an expert on bears, elk and other animals.

An FAA search of the plane's tail number, N988PC, showed that the plane was registered to owner 3/4 Time LLC, 1025 Country Club Road 17 N., Lake Placid. The plane is a 1989 Piper manufactured PA-18-150.

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