Plane Goes Down In Everglades Swamp

A Pitts S-2 (file photo, right) crashed into the Everglades swamp Wednesday, but the pilot and his passenger were able to escape and swim to safety, Palm Beach County (FL) deputies said. The cause of the 3:20 p.m. crash in the federal wildlife area west of Palm Beach County's populated area was not immediately known. Flying the 1991 Pitts was Dave Swartz, 56, of Plantation (FL). His passenger was Eric Simons, 31, of Delray Beach (FL).

Initial reports indicate the aircraft departed the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and flew over a portion of the Northeastern Everglades to practice aerobatic maneuvers. Sometime later, the pilot reported the need to make an emergency landing in a dike near a local highway. The plane went into the water there, but the two men were able to open the plane's canopy and swim the 10 to 20 feet to the nearby shore. Neither was injured although both received some bruises and scratches, police officials said. 

The accident should remind us all to constantly search for emergency landing sites during our enroute and local flying operations. Initially, it seems the pilot of this Pitts stayed close to the highway and never ventured too far over the unforgiving swamp, which is a common practice for flight operations in the South Florida area.

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**                         Report created 3/4/2004   Record 4                                               **
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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 61PS        Make/Model: PTS2      Description: S-2 SPECIAL
  Date: 03/03/2004     Time: 2014
  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Minor

LOCATION
  City: BOCA RATON                  State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT REPORTED THAT HE WOULD BE MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DYKE
  NORTHWEST OF THE BEND IN THE SAWGRASS EXPWY.  OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
  UNKNOWN.  NO REPORTED INJURIES AND MINOR DAMAGE. BOCA RATON, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: 1953Z 10013KT 10SM FEW033 26/17 A3023                                      
                                                                                    
                                                        
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: FORT LAUDERDALE, FL         Dep Date: 03/03/2004   Dep. Time: 1855
  Destination: FORT LAUDERDALE,FLFX     Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: NW OF BEND IN SAWGRASS EXPWY
  Last Clearance: CLRD FOR TAKEOFF
  FAA FSDO: FT LAUDERDALE, FL  (SO17)             Entry date: 03/04/2004

FMI: www.faa.gov