Plane hits DeLand Publix

Published: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

DELAND -- A single-engine experimental plane sputtered after takeoff Monday night and crashed into the Publix on International Speedway Boulevard, sending a ball of fire through the store and five people to the hospital with burns, police said.

Two of the people, the plane's pilot and passenger, suffered critical injuries, police said.

Randy Felix had just finished ordering at the deli when he saw the flames shoot through the roof. A young man, later identified as a Stetson University student, was running toward him with his legs burned.

"It was horrific," said Felix, owner of Mix SalonSpa in downtown DeLand. "When I turned around, I saw the ceiling caving in. Once the tiles were down, there was just pure fire and then the fire was propelled towards the doors almost to the cash registers."

Felix estimated about 100 people were in the store at 299 E. International Speedway Blvd. when the plane crashed into the supermarket's roof near the meat market about 7:20 p.m. Monday.

"They (people in the store) were absolutely screaming. . . . Everything was happening so quickly," he said, adding that he and a store employee grabbed the student and carried him outside for help.

The college student was one of three customers who suffered burns, said DeLand police Sgt. Chris Estes.

The plane's pilot and passenger were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Central, where they were listed in critical condition late Monday. Their names were not released by authorities pending notification of family.

Brendan Beitler, 20, who attends Stetson, also was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was in stable condition. Lisa Cordova and April Morris, whose ages were not released, were treated at Florida Hospital DeLand and expected to be released, Estes said.

The student was conscious and alert and able to make a phone call, according to Cindi Brownfield, a Stetson University spokeswoman. His parents were with him at the hospital.

Rosalia Rebollar of DeLand was in the store with her son shopping and were walking out when the plane tore into the store's roof.

"There were sparks flying all over the store," Rebollar said in Spanish. "The plane fell in by the meat section."

Rebollar said she had just left the section where she had purchased chicken and some other meats. Everything was just black inside the store, Rebollar said.

"People were screaming and crying," she said.

DeLand Police Department Lt. Jack Waples said information they received also indicated that the meat manager saw the pilot and passenger on fire and rushed to put out the flames.

Police and fire responded about 10 minutes after crash, and firetrucks doused the smoking building as rescue workers combed the grocery store for victims. Witnesses described a chaotic scene outside the supermarket in the Northgate Shopping Center.

Witnesses said the plane appeared to have engine trouble after taking off from DeLand Municipal Airport. The engine sputtered and went silent before the plane dropped from the sky, they said.

Amanda Carr was at the check-out counter of the grocery store when the plane came through the roof.

"The lights went out and the building shook," an emotional Carr said. "I just saw a big ball of fire burning in the middle of the store, and I ran out."

As Carr was inside the store, her mother, Linda Carr, waited outside and saw the aircraft go down.

"The plane was coming from the direction of the airport, and it tried to make a U-turn while it was over the Publix," Linda Carr said. "The engine sputtered, and it died and the plane just fell through the roof."

Linda Carr said she then ran toward the store, met her daughter and embraced her with a hug.

Willie McGill of DeLand said he was entering a nearby Lowes home improvement store when he heard a low-flying airplane with a sputtering engine. He turned to his friend and remarked how the plane seemed to be struggling.

"As quickly as I said that, the plane disappeared," McGill said. "The next thing I saw was a puff of smoke."

Joseph Hope, 12, and a friend were tossing a tennis ball around in a lot next to the Airport Restaurant and Gin Mill when they noticed a small plane taxi along the runway.

"I saw the plane take off," Joseph said. "It made a grumbling noise. I saw it fall and just saw smoke."

His mother Kelly Hope said after the plane took off, it appeared to stop in mid-air and glide, not making any noise -- as if the engine had cut off.

DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar said city inspectors will be checking the building, which he heard sustained considerable damage.

Dwaine Stevens, a Publix spokesman, said all of the store's employees had been accounted for. Company officials will inspect the store to assess when it could be reopened, he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Safety Transportation Board have been notified and will be investigating, police said.

-- Staff Writers Clayton Park and Deborah Circelli contributed to this report.

Editor's note: In an earlier version of this story, the last names of Linda and Amanda Carr were incorrect.



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