Small plane crashes on campus; no students injured

A small-plane crash on the grounds of New College of Florida around 3:30 p.m. Saturday killed the pilot and injured the passenger. No students or staff were injured and no College buildings were damaged.
The plane, described by law enforcement officials as a small, single-engine, custom-built aircraft, failed to gain sufficient altitude after its takeoff from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The plane clipped two trees and crashed in an open grassy area about 100 yards west of the Heiser Natural Sciences Building.
The Sarasota County Fire Department responded to the crash site and quickly extinguished the fire.  The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, a 63-year-old Michigan resident, was flown to the burn unit at Tampa General Hospital.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and New College campus police have secured the area, and the NCFSafe campus emergency advisory system has notified students to stay clear of the crash site. Classes are expected to resume as scheduled on Monday. Counseling will be available for students through the Counseling and Wellness Center; call 487-4254.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.