Photo from Peter Masa/Eagle 8VALRICO, FL -
A Cessna 182 crashed into a Valrico cow pasture this afternoon. The pilot and a female passenger walked away uninjured.
The pilot and owner of the plane is John Murray of Tampa. The passenger is his wife, Phyllis.
The plane went down near the intersection of Dew Bloom Road and Beverly Boulevard, just before 4 Friday afternoon. The Murrays were on their way to Miami, after leaving Peter O. Knight Airport in Tampa. After taking off, the plane began experiencing mechanical problems. It lost altitude, then crashed.
Eagle 8 flew over the scene. The small plane appears to be mostly intact, however it received significant damage to its nose cone and underbody.
Pilot-reporter Judd Chapin observed oil on the windshield. Chapin says the family's dog was also onboard.
The name of the pilot and passenger has not yet been released.
The FAA and NTSB will conduct an investigation at the scene, and assist in removing the wreckage.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials say that as of 7 p.m. Friday night, the plane is leaking fuel, and the area is considered a HAZMAT scene. Crews have slowed the leak, and are transferring fuel off the plane.
