Pilot who died in Polk crash dreamed of helping kids

James Trefz had just taken off from the Winter Haven Municipal Airport, bound for Lakeland to pursue his dream.

Trefz, 46, was working to bring the joy of flight to disadvantaged Polk County youth.

"He was putting together a program to bring kids to the airport and give them an opportunity in life," said John Amundsen, the plane's owner and a good friend of Trefz.

The 1974 Beech C23 Sundowner climbed to 300 feet. Then it lost power, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Trefz banked the plane right, said Judd. His wings teetered, according to a witness.

Then the plane hit the westbound lane of US 92. He tried to pull up, but hit a pine tree.

Trefz died at the scene. His passenger, George Azize, 46, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in critical condition.

And about an hour after the crash, a little white terrier scurried under the yellow crime scene tape.

It was Zulu, Trefz's dog.

It survived the crash with minor cuts and bruises.

Juan Jackson was driving his truck east on US 92 at about 9:30 a.m. when he saw a plane flying very low.

So low he was afraid it was going to crash on top of him.

"I saw the plane hit the ground," said Jackson. "The pilot tried to pull up, but he hit a pine tree."

Jackson stopped his truck.

He and another man rushed to the plane.

They pulled Trefz out and at first, he had a pulse.

Then Jackson heard moans from inside the plane. Azize was yelling, "Get me out of here, get me out of here."

"He really looked like he was in bad shape," said Jackson.

By the time Jackson returned to Trefz, the pilot no longer had a pulse.

"I have never experienced anything like this," said Jackson. "I was really scared."

Moments later, Polk County Deputy Stephen Tidwell, a member of the force's SWAT unit, arrived after trying to serve a warrant. He held Trefz's neck as another deputy, Steve Valk, used a defibrillator to try and resuscitate the man. Valk also tried CPR on the pilot, but it didn't work. An ambulance came and took over.

Trefz, who made news last year for plans to bring an upscale RV park to Brooksville, came south from suburban Long Island, New York, said Amundsen.

"He was in the corporate world in New York and got tired of that," said Amundsen, owner of Tailwheels Etc. Inc, a flight school at the airport.

The two men met about six months ago, said Amundsen, when Trefz came to the airport. They soon became good friends, he said.

He said Trefz was a good pilot, with about 50 hours of flight in that aircraft and about 500 hours overall.

Trefz wanted to share that and give back, said Amundsen.

The two men, along with Azize, were working to set up "Adopt A Dream," said Amundsen.

"He wanted to help orphans and kids who might have a parent in prison, who might not have much opportunity," said Amundsen. "It was designed to give them a different look at life."

As sad as the day was, it could have been worse, said Judd.

Fortunately, he said, U.S. 92 was clear of traffic at the time.

As deputies waited for investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board to arrive, there was a little bit of good news.

Zulu, the little white dog who survived, was reunited with Trefz's family.