Sunday, January 11, 2026

Melbourne Beach man identified as pilot killed in Clearwater plane crash

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The 3 victims that were killed in a plane crash in Clearwater last Thursday have been identified.

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Jemin Patel and his wife Tammy (Facebook image)

According to reports from WFLA, they were 54-year-old Melbourne Beach pilot Jemin Patel and two others, 54-year-old Mary Ellen Ponder from Treasure Island and 68-year-old Martha Parry from Clearwater. Patel was the only occupant of the plane.

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Patel took off in his Beechcraft Bonanza V35 from Vero Beach Regional Airport, about 15 miles north of Fort Pierce, and was heading to Clearwater Airpark, according to data from FlightRadar24.

Example of Bonanza V35 aircraft

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Around 7p.m. Thursday, Patel reported he experienced engine failure before crashing into the mobile home park. The crash set several of the homes on fire, and killing the other 2 victims. The crash was about 3 miles north of the runway at Clearwater Airpark

Federal authorities are investigating the crash.

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