Pilot Airlifted After Small Plane Crash Lands Near Homestead Airport
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HOMESTEAD (CBSMiami) -- An investigation is underway after plane went down in Homestead Monday afternoon, landing the pilot to the hospital.
The plane crash landed near 28700 SW 217th Avenue. It reportedly had a "bad landing" sometime around 4 p.m. near Homestead General Aviation.
"It's very hard," the pilot's ex-wife told CBS4's Tiani Jones.
She hasn't even seen the scene where her ex-husband's plane made a hard landing.
The nose of the 1966 single engine piper 128-A detached – the plane left on its belly.
She doesn't want to share her identity, but said she got a call Monday evening that her ex, Santiago Gonzalez, was being rushed to the hospital.
"She said that he has a crash in his plane. And I said, 'Oh my God!' I couldn't believe it," Gonzalez's ex-wife said. "She said the other person is OK, and it's crazy because you say, he's almost dying and the other person is OK."
The other person on the plane was fine, but taken to the hospital to be checked out.
Witnesses told CBS4 that Gonzalez was unconscious when he was taken by helicopter to Jackson Memorial South.
While the investigation continues, workers around the airport said there was heavy rain in the area at the time the plane was landing from the north end of the runway.
"He has been a pilot for many years," Gonzalez's ex said.
She said he was skilled pilot and was simply enjoying a day off – doing what he loved the most.
"I feel very sorry, I hope he recovers soon," she said.
It is unclear what caused the incident.
