Small Plane Crash in Volusia County

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office reports that a small plane crashed in Port Orange Thursday.

According to a release from the sheriff's office, the site of the crash was  Spruce Creek Farms subdivision, about half a mile from the Spruce Creek Fly-In community. 

Officials say the crash site was on the other side of State Road 415 in a heavily wooded area about 50 feet from a resident’s home.

Authorities identified the pilot as Arthur Taxman, 71, and said he suffered minor injuries and was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center.

Deputies say he told them his plane had experienced mechanical failure and was able to land in Spruce Creek Farms.

The sheriff's office says the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will take the lead in this investigation.

This was the second crash in less than a week for the area.

Authorities note that, on Tuesday evening, a small plane crashed in the area of Spruce Creek Fly-In.

According to incident records, two people were on board that plane, a Cessna 140.

Investigators say a student at  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach was killed in that crash.

The second person, the pilot, was identified as a flight instructor at the school. 

That person remained hospitalized Thursday in serious condition, according to authorities.

Officials say the Tuesday crash narrowly missed a home, but investigators say people on the ground avoided injury.

That mishap is under federal investigation, as well, investigators say.


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