Pilot Jemin Patel Killed In  Plane Crash

Photo: @clearwaterfire

CLEARWATER, FL – In a devastating incident on February1, Indian American pilot Jemin Patel, 54, lost his life along with two others when the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 he was piloting crashed into a mobile home park here.

The tragic event unfolded around 7 pm when Patel, the sole occupant of the ill-fated aircraft, reported engine failure to authorities just before the plane descended and crashed into the Bayside Waters 55+ community. Clearwater officials confirmed the identities of the victims, as Martha Parry, 86, and Mary Ellen Pender, 54.

The crash resulted in a fire that engulfed four mobile homes within the park.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the plane was registered to Control Data Inc. of Indianapolis, with Jemin Patel listed as the company’s owner.

Patel had departed from Vero Beach Regional Airport, approximately 34 miles from Melbourne Beach, where he lived with his wife Tammy Patel. A licensed pilot, he was well-known in the skies above Melbourne Beach, according to an obituary featured on a website.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are set to investigate the crash, with the NTSB leading the efforts and providing updates as the investigation unfolds.