Pilot killed when small plane hits power line, crashes in Florida

Video above: See the week's top headlines in Tampa Bay TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — The pilot of a small plane is dead after hitting a power line and crashing onto a Florida roadway on Monday morning, the Titusville Fire Department said. First responders arrived at the scene on Columbia Boulevard at around 10:15 a.m. and found the single-engine aircraft on fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire, but have been unable to identify the pilot so far. Their identity will be released following positive identification and notification of next of kin. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the Titusville Police Department will conduct the death investigation. The FAA confirmed that the plane was a Mooney M20P and said the pilot was the only one on board. The NTSB said preliminary information suggests the plane experienced engine failure after departing the Space Coast Regional Airport and attempted to return to the runway. When the pilot made a left turn, the plane collided with trees and power lines before crashing. The surrounding roadway will be closed for an extended period as the investigation continues and as authorities wait for specialized equipment to remove the aircraft for further evaluation. Florida Power & Light is working to restore power after damage to the power line. Any witnesses of the crash or those with surveillance video are asked to contact witness@ntsb.gov.