Was Reportedly Landing In Storm

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 06.12.06 1500 EDT: The pilot of a Beech A90 King Air was killed Monday afternoon after the aircraft reportedly slid off a wet runway at Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa, FL and into a nearby home.

The accident occurred just before 1:00 pm EDT Monday, as rains from Tropical Storm Alberto pelted the Davis Islands airport, located south of downtown Tampa.

The Tampa Tribune reports a passenger was able to escape the aircraft, which burst into flames as it impacted the home of Tom and Cynthia Tate.

"I couldn't do a thing except just run for my life," said Cynthia just after the accident. "I just thank god my children weren't home."

Witness Bill Povey told police he heard the plane just before the crash, and thought it was flying low... and wondered "who is flying in this weather?"

The identity of the pilot has not been released. FAA records show the aircraft, a 1967 Beechcraft A90 King Air, registry N7043G, is registered to a leasing company in Virginia.

While the area is being battered by rains and wind from the approaching tropical storm, it is not yet known if the weather played a role in the accident.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.noaa.gov