Pilot swims to safety after small plane goes down in lake, FAA says

Dec. 14--The pilot of a small plane swam to safety after his aircraft lost power and went down in a lake in Oakland Park on Wednesday, federal aviation authorities say.

The Canadian-registered, twin-engine light aircraft sank quickly and was no longer visible shortly after the crash that happened around noon near the 3200 block of Northwest 21st Avenue.

"It sounds like an early Christmas miracle. The pilot crashed the small plane into a lake and was able to extricate himself," said David Rafter, an Oakland Park spokesman. "No injuries reported."

The Piper PA-23 took off out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and was returning to the airport when it crashed, said Kathleen Bergen, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson.

Ronald Forbes said he was sitting in his truck eating lunch when he saw a puff of smoke in the sky as the plane's engine went out.

Then he watched the plane nosedive into the lake, he said.

The pilot emerged from the plane seemingly unscathed and stood on the wing as it began to sink, Forbes said.

"At about five to six minutes, the plane was completely down except for the tail sticking out, and by the time the police got here it went under," he said.

Rescue crews were at the scene. Witnesses said the pilot was able to swim to safety after the crash.

The pilot and his insurance company are expected to arrange for the removal of the plane, if possible, Bergen said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate and determine the probable cause of the accident.

___

(c)2017 the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.