Crime & Safety

83-Year-Old Pilot Crashes Plane in Cow Pasture

The small plane apparently had engine problems upon takeoff. The pilot was airlifted to a local hospital.

An 83-year-old Bradenton pilot's small experimental plane crashed Sunday morning in a cow pasture off US 41.

Eugene Massa of Lake Bayshore Drive was piloting the ultra-light fixed wing aircraft, which crashed shortly after taking off from the Manatee Airport, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, which was contacted by Manatee County.

The plane had just left the airport and according to the pilot and the tower, when the plane reached 300 feet, the plane began to have engine problems.

A  search of the area led to the discovery of the plane in a cow pasture,
at 6528 Highway 41, which is just before Manatee County.  

The crash occurred on private property and is located about 500 feet off of Highway 41.

The pilot was alert and talking when he was airlifted  to Blake Hospital in
Manatee County.

The remainder of the investigation will be conducted by FAA.

The crash is not visible from the roadway and it is located on private property. 

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This is the second crash this month of an experimental ultra-light plane after takeoff from the Manatee Airport. Recently, a 47-year-old pilot was not injured when his plane crashed.


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