What happened
On October 1, 2024, at approximately 15:40 EDT, a Beech 9D (B55), registration N5868S, crashed into a wooded, swampy area approximately 4 nautical miles northwest of Crystal River Airport (CGC) in Florida. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
During the event, the pilot transmitted a distress call over the airport's common traffic advisory frequency, identifying the aircraft as "68S" and asking for the airport's location after referencing two large cooling towers. A witness at a maintenance facility at CGC informed the pilot that the airport was 7 to 10 nautical miles southeast of his position. Shortly after, the pilot made a second transmission requesting the distance to the airport.
An observer in another aircraft noticed black smoke and diverted to the area at approximately 15:50, locating the aircraft engulfed in smoke and fire. A witness on a boat in the area reported seeing the aircraft flying at a low altitude and high speed with both engines operating normally. The witness observed the left wing dip sharply, leading to a spiraling descent. The aircraft completed two revolutions before descending into trees, followed by an explosion and smoke.
The accident resulted in 1 fatality.