Federal investigators say an in-flight engine fire likely triggered the small-plane crash that tore into the Bayside Waters mobile-home park in Clearwater on Feb. 1, 2024, killing three people. The report also finds that the pilot’s struggle to locate Clearwater Airpark while trying to land during the emergency made a bad situation even worse.
The conclusion appears in a federal report released today, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which reports that investigators determined the evidence points to an in-flight engine fire as the initiating event. The Times also notes that the pilot’s inability to find the airport’s runway squeezed an already tight emergency window.
In its earlier preliminary report, the NTSB laid out a tense final timeline: the Beechcraft V35B departed Vero Beach on an IFR flight plan, canceled IFR near Clearwater, then the pilot radioed on the common traffic advisory frequency that he could not find the airport and asked that the runway lights be turned on. The preliminary document also records the pilot saying, “I’m losing engine,” the squawk of a 7700 emergency transponder code, and several videos that captured a bright light or “fireball” before impact, according to the NTSB’s preliminary report.
The crash destroyed a double-wide mobile home and killed the pilot and two people who were inside. Authorities identified them as pilot Jemin Patel, 54, resident Martha Parry, 86, and visitor Mary Ellen Pender, 54, according to The Associated Press. Firefighters knocked down flames that spread to neighboring units, and investigators later secured the heat-damaged wreckage for detailed examination.
Investigators say fire likely started in flight
According to the federal report, physical evidence and video analysis led investigators to conclude that an in-flight engine fire best matches witness accounts and the recorded data, even though the probe could not pin down the exact ignition source. The Tampa Bay Times reports that the NTSB consulted engine and airframe representatives and reviewed maintenance records as part of its final determination.
Legal fallout for families and owner
The crash has also set off civil litigation. The husband of one of the victims filed a wrongful-death suit alleging that the plane’s owner failed to properly maintain the aircraft and is seeking damages, Bay News 9 reported. Neighbors described a stunned mobile-home community and have pressed for answers about safety and nighttime operations near small airports.
The NTSB’s determination closes the agency’s fact-finding role and is likely to be cited in the pending civil cases as families push for accountability. Local leaders and pilots say the case highlights the risks of night operations in single-engine aircraft and the need for rigorous maintenance and emergency planning around small fields.
