A small aircraft crashed near Airport Manatee on March 18, resulting in two occupants being airlifted to nearby hospitals. The incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. when the vintage single-engine Aeronca Champ plane experienced difficulty shortly after takeoff.
According to the officials, the aircraft veered to the left, struck a powerline, and then crashed into an unoccupied pickup truck parked nearby. The impact left both occupants injured, but fortunately, no one on the ground was harmed.
Upon arrival, deputies found 70-year-old pilot John Sikirica still seated in the front of the plane with visible injuries, while 86-year-old passenger Allen Maxwell had managed to climb out of the rear seat but was also injured. Both men received immediate care at the scene by North River Fire Rescue personnel, who assisted in extricating the pilot from the wreckage.
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The North River Fire District quickly dispatched four units to the scene. Given the fuel leak from the aircraft and the presence of downed powerlines, crews immediately took action to secure the area and mitigate further hazards. Firefighters focused on controlling the situation, performing fire suppression while also assisting in the extrication of the pilot from the wreckage.
Once both patients were stabilized, they were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Sikirica was transported to Tampa General Hospital, while Maxwell was flown to Bayfront Medical Center. Fortunately, both men’s injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
Florida Power and Light (FPL) responded to repair the damaged powerline, and the scene was secured by MSO. The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Airport officials reported that the plane, which typically carries about 13 gallons of fuel, appeared to leak less than a couple of gallons during the crash, and the leak was no longer active by the time first responders arrived.
