Pilot killed after plane crashes into home near Winter Haven airport

A flight instructor was killed Saturday after his plane lost power and crashed into a home in Winter Haven, the Polk County Sheriff ’s Office said.

The crash happened about 12:45 p.m. in the 2700 block of Idylridge Drive, just south of the Winter Haven Regional Airport.

James Wagner, 64, was in the twin-engine plane with a trainee pilot, 33-year-old Timothy Sheehy, and planned to conduct simulated engine failure training. It’s unclear who was flying the plane at the time of the crash or whether it happened during the training, Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters at a news conference Saturday.

The plane struck the home near a rear bedroom, pinning a 17-year-old girl inside against a wall, Judd said. The girl’s brother and mother were also inside the home, and three children were in the front yard when the plane crashed, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Wagner, of Lakeland, was killed in the crash.

“As tragic as this was for Mr. Wagner, and it was tragic, it was a blessing today that we didn’t have an entire family wiped out,” Judd told reporters.

Sheehy, of Montana, and the girl both suffered minor injuries, Judd said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash, according to the Sheriff ’s Office.