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Pilot, passenger survive plane crash near Clearwater

Posted at 11:15 AM, Nov 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-20 05:38:20-05

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Pinellas County deputies are investigating downed small airplane on Keene Road North near Sunset Road in unincorporated Clearwater.

The airplane is a four-seater 1975 Rockwell International 112A fixed wing, single-engine aircraft.

 According to records, the plane is owned by Clearwater resident Marc Benedict.

Authorities said Benedict was piloting the airplane at the time of the crash.

 He was accompanied by an unidentified passenger at the time. Deputies say both Benedict and his passenger walked away from the crash with no injuries.

 No one on the ground was hurt.

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According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the airplane took off from Clearwater Air Park Sunday morning and traveled to Zephyrhills. Benedict and his passenger were returning to the air park when something went wrong. 

The Pinellas County Central Communications received a call about the crash at about 10:23 a.m. Sunday.

The plane ended up going down on Keene Road about a half mile from the airpark. Benedict told deputies he thought the airplane was having engine problems.