'Several' Dead After Small Plane Crashes Into Florida Mobile Home Park

Mobile homes in Clearwater, Fla. caught on fire following the single engine plane crash, officials said

Several people are dead after a small plane crashed into a large Clearwater, Fla. mobile home park Thursday night, officials say.

"I can confirm that we have several fatalities, both from the aircraft and within the mobile home," Clearwater Fire Chief Scott Ehlers said during a press conference. Ehlers did not specify the number of dead or injured.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot of the Beechcraft Bonanza V35 had reported an engine failure before the crash.

Ehlers said that around 7:08 pm, the fire department received reports of a structure fire at the Bayside Estates mobile home park, which was formerly known as Japanese Gardens.

At the same time, aircraft response and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles out of St. Pete-Clearwater Airport were alerted of a plane that had "some trouble." The airport lost contact with the plane three miles north of the runway and converged upon the area when they saw the fire, Ehlers said.

Related: Pilot Dies, Driver Injured After Small Plane Crashes into Calif. Intersection and Hits a Car

He added that three, possible four structures were on fire and that the aircraft wreckage was "predominantly" in one structure.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, the FAA said.

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