BREVARD COUNTY — A pilot escaped injuries after his small aircraft crashed into the C-54 canal on Monday afternoon following an onboard malfunction, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. The wreck happened just north of the Indian River-Brevard county line.
“(The plane) nosed into the water,” said Commander Stephen Fernez, a spokesperson with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. “(The pilot) is safe. He climbed right on out.”
The incident prompted the response of several agencies including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Brevard County Fire Rescue, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Indian River County Fire Rescue and the FAA.
“Deputies located the adult male pilot walking nearby and not injured,” said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “He was the sole occupant of the aircraft.”
First responders were called to the plane crash about 5:40 p.m. at the St. John Water Management District C-54 Canal near mile marker 160. A motorist traveling on Interstate 95 dialed 911 after spotting the plane in the water of the canal, Jaworski said.
The incident occurred on the west side of Interstate 95 and closer to the north side of the canal, said David Rattray, deputy chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue. First responders found the single-engine aircraft unoccupied and partially submerged.
“Upon our arrival, the pilot was not with the plane,” Rattray said.
The C-54 Canal is located inside the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. The canal separates Indian River County and Brevard County, Jaworski said.
Rattray said the plane’s pilot was at the scene with someone from the park.
Details on the plane model were not available. There were no passengers aboard the aircraft, Fernez said.
Rattray said the FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, were notified of the wreck. FAA officials were at the scene combing for evidence.
“We determined that the plane crashed on the Brevard side of the canal,” Jaworski said.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the crash.
Photos contributed by Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
No further details were immediately available.
