An ultralight plane clipped power lines shortly after takeoff and came down hard in the westbound lanes of State Road 60 in Mulberry on Saturday morning, turning a busy stretch of highway into an instant landing strip. The aircraft was carrying two people, a local father and his adult son visiting from New York, and both were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries officials say are not believed to be life‑threatening. Deputies shut down the westbound lanes and pushed traffic into the eastbound side while crews worked the scene, and utility workers stayed into the afternoon to clear wreckage and inspect the damaged lines.
What officials said
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office called it an “extremely hard” landing and said deputies were directing drivers around the downed ultralight, according to WFTV. The agency also pushed out a social media update as first responders worked the highway. Polk County Fire Rescue took both men to the hospital, and officials said they are expected to be okay.
Traffic and response
Westbound SR 60 was shut down while deputies funneled traffic into the open eastbound lanes to keep vehicles moving, the Tampa Free Press reported. Emergency crews stayed on scene into the afternoon, removing the aircraft and coordinating with utility workers checking the power lines. Drivers were warned to brace for delays along the busy corridor between Bartow and Lakeland.
How ultralights are regulated
Ultralight vehicles fall under FAA rules known as Part 103, which restrict them to single‑occupant recreational use and, when strict weight and performance limits are met, do not require an airworthiness certificate or pilot’s license, per FAA guidance. Under that framework, both local authorities and federal officials can have a role in any follow‑up, depending on how the aircraft is classified and what investigators find. It is not yet clear whether federal aviation officials will open a formal probe in this case, WFTV reported.
Local context
This is not the first small‑aircraft emergency along SR 60 this year. In May, a single‑seat plane made an emergency landing near South Lakeland Airport after reported engine trouble, and the pilot walked away uninjured, local reporting shows. The repeat incidents highlight how quickly recreational flights can become roadside emergencies and why multiple agencies typically roll out when something goes wrong overhead.
Investigation
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the cause of Saturday’s crash is still under investigation and that crews on scene were coordinating with utility partners, FOX13 Tampa Bay reported. Investigators asked anyone with photos or dash‑cam video from the area to contact the sheriff’s office. Officials did not immediately release the names of the two men on board.
