Democratic Underground - Florida has more small plane troubles...2 killed in Nchols crash

Our area is host to the Sun and Fun Fly In yearly, and will be hosting a new aerial aerobatics show soon. There appear to be no restrictions about flying around neighborhood areas, and small plane crashes are happening more and more.

This crash was at least in a rural setting, but the two occupants were killed. Then I heard of the one in Orlando.

SCOTT WHEELER/The Ledger
Investigators document the scene of a plane crash Monday near the Nichols community, southwest of Mulberry. The crash of the twin-engine 1967 Piper Comanche killed Robert Cunningham, 51, of Plant City, and Armando "Lincoln" Motta, 61, from Kissimmee, shortly after the men took off from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport about 8:15 a.m.

NICHOLS - Robert Cunningham, the 51-year-old passenger from Plant City who was killed in a plane crash in Nichols on Monday morning, was a passionate aviator and a familiar face at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Cunningham died along with Armando "Lincoln" Motta, his 61-year-old friend from Kissimmee, soon after taking off from Lakeland. Motta was identified by the Polk County Sheriff's Office as the owner and pilot of the 1967 Piper Comanche.

Motta did not file a flight plan and was not required to by the FAA, according to Scott Pickett, Lakeland's tower chief.

And there was another recently.

It was the second double-fatal plane crash in Polk County this year.

On April 16, two Ohio men headed for the Sun 'n Fun Fly-in died when their plane crashed while attempting to land at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.

Frank Marsico of Port Orange was still listed Monday as the owner on the FAA Web site. Marsico said he sold the plane about two months ago but did not know the name of the buyer and said the aircraft was due for an overhaul of its engines and annual maintenance.

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