'A giant boom': 4 dead after 2 planes collide near Central Florida lake

wesh.com ^ | Updated: 12:26 PM EST Mar 8, 2023

[V_TWIN]

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Four people are dead after two small planes collided near a Central Florida lake on Tuesday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Winter Haven police and Winter Haven fire responded to Lake Hartridge at 2 p.m. when crews began a search by water and air.

[blackdog]

Practicing my solo touch and go's was my pride working on my private. One day I got called up and told to visit the tower. The designated examiner was there to compliment me on my precision and accuracy. He then he explained he was about ten feet off my right wing for an hour and I never saw him once.

From then on my head is on a swivel. Never focus on one critical task. Scan and distribute your attention to all risks and obligations.

[TokarevM57]

...you know it.....!! one time, flying over the mountains of western Virginia, I was facing a headwind that just about made my ground speed zero....! that was quite a trip..and, of course, the fuel tank started leaking, dripping a bit of 87-octane fuel on the wooden flooring underneath it....

[Robe]

I actually did fly backwards in a J-3 at Galveston TX airport

[central_va]

SWEVEN NEODD rule. Sweven Neood isn't scandinavian farmer.

Due South and all points West maintain even altitude + 500. Due north and all points East fly at odd altitude + 500 feet.

[Tucker39]

The story goes that in the late 1800s there were 2 automobiles in the entire city of Buffalo, NY. And one day those two vehicles had a collision with each other. Of course, we know that one or the other driver caused it. The automobiles had no say in the matter.

[central_va]

VFR you should be looking outside 95% of the time. IFR the opposite.

[Bonemaker]

In the air you have the whole sky above, below, ahead and behind to worry about. 360° in every direction.

[moovova]

Not being a pilot, how do these type collisions happen?......................

Gradually...then suddenly.

[Tell It Right]

Meanwhile, across the land on Interstates, 2-lanes, and city streets, thousands of people are killed or maimed in cars each week with no headlines. The media loves to have aircraft accidents to hate and make into headlines.

Like unreported black-on-white violence.
Or car fires involving no EV's. LOL

[chajin]

There’s a seaplane base near airport too.

I forgot, that's right off of Lake Jessie on the other side of the airport from Hartridge

[pnz1]

I was thinking another seaplane based there crashed not long ago?

[Yo-Yo]

[6ppc]

No kidding. After my multi-enging check ride I taxied my rented 172 out to fly back to home base. Uncontrolled airport and I neglected to make sure No one was on final. Radioed I was taking off and as I climbed out I saw a plane 200-300 feet above me. Thought for sure my check ride instructor would call and tell me my pass just turned into a fail, but guess he didn’t see me screwing up. Never made that mistake again!

[central_va]

Float planes are the only aircraft where the take-off is more challenging than the landing.

[Angelino97]

I’m surprised modern planes still have blind spots. I’ve been on buses over a decade ago that had video cameras in the blind spots, so the driver could see what was there on TV monitors.

[Bonemaker]

Jack Brown Seaplane Base

Looks like one of their yellow piper float planes involved.

[Yo-Yo]

Float planes are the only aircraft where the take-off is more challenging than the landing.

That's not to say that the landings are a piece of cake.

[TokarevM57]

....that J-3 Cub that crashed could hardly be considered a “modern” aircraft....hell; they didn’t even have electrical systems...not even a starter for the 65-horsepower engine...they had to be hand-cranked...the best way to prevent such accidents is the good ol’ Mark I No.1 Eyeball, unit-of-issue - pair; quantity 1.....

[Bonemaker]

Somebody forgot to tighten the bolts on that engine mount!

[Bonemaker]

Guess he couldn’t do a go around.