Zachary Jean Mace, 19, Faith Irene Baker, 24, Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, and Louis C. Defazio, 78, dead after two planes crash mid-air over Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven, Florida

Modified Date: 
Wed, 03/08/2023 - 7:06pm
Accident Date: 
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

2 dead after 2 planes collide near Central Florida lake

Investigators said one of the planes that crashed was a Piper J-3 Cub seaplane operated by Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Winter Haven. The other plane was identified as a Cherokee Piper 161 fixed-wing plane operated by Sunrise Aviation on behalf of Polk State College.

4 killed when 2 small planes collide over Florida lake

Caridad Fernandez, who lives along Lake Hartridge, says she heard “a giant boom” and saw the planes hit the water. Rescue workers later pulled four bodies from the planes.

Pennsylvania man killed in mid-air plane collision in Florida

Police identified one of the crash victims as Randall Crawford, 67, of Carlisle, Cumberland County.

It’s not yet clear what caused the crash.

College student among 4 killed when planes collide and sink into Florida lake, cops say

A 19-year-old Polk State College student was among four killed when two planes collided over Florida’s Lake Hartridge, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

People Involved: 
Zachary Jean Mace
Faith Irene Baker
Randall Elbert Crawford
Louis C. Defazio
Roadway: 
21st Street