Banner plane pilot killed in fiery Hollywood crash
FORT LAUDERDALE - The pilot of a banner plane was killed when his aircraft crashed Wednesday afternoon near a shopping plaza in Hollywood.
Authorities said the single-engine Piper aircraft went down at 450 N Park Road, near Hollywood Boulevard, around 12:45 p.m., according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot was the only one on board the aircraft when it crashed, which is now under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, officials said.
A friend of the pilot spoke to CBS News Miami off camera, telling us he was in his twenties and says he was an Army veteran.
The friend adds that the victim is a former commercial pilot and that he was training to operate banner planes. The friend says this was only the victim's first or second time flying this kind of plane.
We're told the victim was a kind, friendly, humble man who loved fishing.
"Upon impact, the plane was fully engulfed in flames and fire rescue responded to put out the blaze. It appeared to be a single engine plane with one person deceased inside," said city spokesperson Deanne Bettineschi.
When Hollywood Fire Rescue arrived the plane was fully engulfed in flames.
Chopper 4, over the scene, spotted firefighters dousing the skeletal charred remains of the aircraft with foam.
Video of the plane showed it bobbing up and down before it crashed.
Rhonda Martinez says she saw the plane before it crashed and knew it was in trouble.
"I saw the plane flying low to the left and I saw the yellow plane with a banner and it seemed like it was losing altitude because it was going in a downward position and that seemed awfully low for a plane to be flying."
"Honestly, my dad was in pilot school at one time and I know that the plane that was flying was in trouble. I feel terrible because I was born and raised here. This is heart-wrenching."
This banner plane operated out of North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines which is west of where the crash happened.
The company Aerial Banners out of Pembroke Pines confirmed to CBS News Miami that it was their plane that crashed.
The pilot has not been identified by authorities.
The FAA and the NTSB are investigating.
The FAA says it should be releasing a preliminary report by Thursday.
There were no other injuries reported.
