TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

2 men injured after small-plane crash in Winter Haven

Staff photo

A 2005 SeaRey aircraft crashed into Lake Otis in Winter Haven just before 11 a.m. Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: September 17, 2009

Updated: 09/17/2009 01:38 pm

Two men are hospitalized after a small plane crashed in a lake in Winter Haven this morning, Winter Haven police said.

The plane, a 2005 SeaRey, crashed into Lake Otis at 10:31 a.m. after it suffered what the pilot told police was a catastrophic engine failure.

The pilot, John Sugar, 43, of Winter Haven, was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Police did not know the extent of his injuries.

The plane's owner, John Curtis, 64, also of Winter Haven, was flown to the same hospital with injuries that police described as serious.

Police do not know where the flight started or its destination.

The aircraft was upside-down in the lake.

Police notified the Federal Aviation Administration, which notified the National Transportation Safety Board.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT