MULBERRY, Fla — One person died after an experimental amateur-built (EAB) aircraft crashed in Mulberry late Tuesday morning, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
The call came in around 10:40 a.m. Monday of an aircraft down at South Lakeland Airstrip, 4868 Southwind Drive, in Mulberry.
The FAA confirmed it was a single-engine Merlin Lite that crashed. The aircraft can seat one person.
The pilot and owner of the plane Arthur Canning, 76, taxied down and started to fly, but as he got off the ground, the engine sputtered and stalled. Within seconds the plane cashed nose first into the ground.
Experimental amateur-built aircraft are built by individuals and licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. This one had just received its FAA certificate late last year.
"It is our understanding it was just certified towards end of October, first of November, but he had only flown it about three times, to our knowledge," said Polk County Sheriff Graddy Judd.
Canning is from the south Lakeland area and was a pilot for ten years.
Canning's family sent a statement to ABC Action News regarding the tragic incident.
"The family of Arthur Canning is deeply saddened to hear the news of Art’s accident. Art was a loving father and grandfather. He was a loving, kind, generous, and encouraging person, who loved to read, ride his bike, and watch Brit-Box TV."
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene and investigating.
This is a developing story. Stay with abcactionnews.com for the latest updates as they become available.
