Small Plane Hits 2 Florida Homes

SANFORD, Fla. – A small plane trying to make an emergency landing crashed into a suburban Orlando neighborhood Tuesday morning, starting two house fires and injuring at least three people, one of them a boy who was severely burned, authorities said.

Both homes were largely gutted by the flames, and smoke could be seen rising from the neighborhood where the plane went down around 8:40 a.m.

Matt Minnetta, a fire investigator with Sanford Fire Department, said at least three people were injured, including a boy about 10 years old who had burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body. Minnetta said officials believe the pilot was the only person aboard the plane.

The twin engine Cessna 310 was registered to Competitor Liaison Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, said Kathleen Bergen with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane was traveling from Daytona Beach to Lakeland when the pilot declared smoke in the cockpit. The pilot was attempting to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when the plane crashed about a mile or two north of the airport, Bergen said.

A message left with an airport spokeswoman was not immediately returned.