A pilot and passenger walked away unharmed after a single-engine plane clipped a tree and crashed on a Florida highway.
Pilot Marc Allen Benedict, 61, and his passenger 55-year-old Gregory Guinee took off in the four-seat Rockwell Commander 112 at 9am from Clearwater Airpark and flew to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport Sunday morning.
Pinellas County deputies said the pair refueled the aircraft at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport and attempted to return back to the Clearwater Airpark when the crash occurred around 10am.
A pilot and passenger walked away unharmed after a single-engine plane (top center) clipped a tree and crashed on a Florida highway
Video of the crash was caught on camera by Pinellas County deputies who were in the area on an unrelated call on Sunday. The plane is seen flying extremely low before the crash
The plane (top right) then clipped a tree, causing a large branch to fall in the middle of the road, before it crash-landed on the highway
Two deputies who were responding to an unrelated call for service in the area caught the crash on their dashcam.
In the video, the plane is seen flying very low over the highway when all of a sudden it appears to try and pull up.
The plane then clipped a tree, causing a large branch to fall in the middle of the road, before it crash-landed on the highway.
The two deputies who were already at the scene quickly secured the area, blocked off traffic and went to aid the two men.
According to officers, Benedict said he believed there to be engine trouble while in the air over the area of Sunset Point Road and Belcher Road area in Clearwater.
Benedict told investigators he did not believe he could make it back to the Clearwater Airpark and began looking for a safe place to land.
Investigators said both the pilot Benedict (left) and his passenger Guinee (right) reported no injuries and refused medical treatment
Benedict said he observed what appeared to be an opening and attempted to land the plane (pictured) on Keene Road. While landing, Benedict reported the left wing caught a tree causing the plane to spin and crash
The investigation into the cause of the crash (pictured) is being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. It has not yet been determined what caused the plane to crash
He said he saw a deputy near the intersection of Keene Road and Sunset Point Road.
Benedict said he then observed what appeared to be an opening and attempted to land the plane on Keene Road.
While landing, Benedict reported the left wing caught a tree causing the plane to spin and crash.
Investigators said both the pilot Benedict and his passenger Guinee reported no injuries and refused medical treatment. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
It has not yet been determined what caused the plane to crash.