Polk County Fire Rescue firefighters and Polk County Sheriff’s (PSCO) deputies responded about 7:15 a.m. Sunday December 24 2017, when a twin-engine Cessna private aircraft crashed at the Bartow Airbase. The pilot pulled out of the hangar about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, 2017.
Preliminary information is that the plane took off around 7:15 a.m. heading east. For unknown reasons, the twin-engine Cessna 340 crashed shortly after takeoff. Foggy conditions were reported at the time of the crash.
The plane’s flight roster listed four people aboard the aircraft, and four bodies were confirmed dead in the wreckage, according to Tina Mann, a spokeswoman for Polk County Fire and Rescue. The flight plans listed Key West, Florida as a destination. The aircraft fire destroyed the marking of the aircrafts registration number.
The crash occurred near the PCSO Aviation Unit hangar, which is on Ben Durrance Road (cross street Bomber Road) in unincorporated Bartow. The Polk County Mosquito Control Office is also nearby.
There was a fire after the plane crashed, which was put out by Polk County Fire Rescue personnel. Everyone on board perished. We have not yet positively identified the victims, nor notified next of kin. We do not yet have an accurate number of how many victims there are.
PCSO is conducting the death investigation. We will release information related to the deaths and the victims’ identities when we can, which likely will not be for several hours.
The NTSB is en-route to investigate the cause of the plane crash, and will be answering all inquiries related to the crash.
This is a horrific tragedy, especially on Christmas Eve, and the victims and their families are in our prayers.
— Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Several people have been killed in a Christmas Eve plane crash in Florida https://t.co/9UkP36GnSl pic.twitter.com/syUbf7tD6a
— CNN (@CNN) December 24, 2017
FAA officials have confirmed 4 people were on board this Cessna 340 aircraft this morning and were attempting to take off from Bartow Municipal Airport when it crashed. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. Witnesses say this fog covered runways. pic.twitter.com/Ax0PGOeYII
— Kellie Cowan (@KellieCowan) December 24, 2017
Sheriff Judd says multiple people were on board the aircraft, one of whom he knew well: "It breaks my heart" pic.twitter.com/HRUX4RgvFU
— Kellie Cowan (@KellieCowan) December 24, 2017
A photo from the scene of the Cessna 340 plane crash at the #BartowAirbase. FAA has arrived, NTSB is en route. Once we can release more about victims we will. Praying for these victims & their families. #BartowPlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/5jhFmPu1dS
— Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) December 24, 2017
