Small plane found upside down in Myakka River after crash, Manatee County sheriff says
A small plane crash-landed upside down into the Myakka River in Triangle Ranch on Monday night but was not discovered until the following day, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
It was not until about noon Tuesday that the ranch discovered the plane and called the sheriff’s office Rural Unit, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Melissa Conway said.
Deputies, Manatee Search and Rescue, East Manatee Fire Rescue and Sarasota Air Unit searched the area near the crash but could not find the pilot.
They quickly learned, however, that the pilot had crashed the plane on Monday night and was able to climb out safely. He was able to get home and report the crash to federal aviation authorities.
The Grumman American AA-5 fixed wing single-engine aircraft is registered to Sarasota resident Barry Squire, according to FAA records.
The flight took off from Fort Pierce St. Lucie County International Airport at 8:47 p.m., according to FlightTrader24 tracking. It crashed landed into the river at 9:44 p.m.
The pilot appears to make regular trips between Sarasota and Fort Pierce, according to flight data.
Triangle Ranch, 30303 Clay Gully Rd, Myakka City, is a privately owned 1,143-acre ranch but the Southwest Florida Water Management District has held a permanent conservation agreement since 2016.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 1:54 PM.
