GROVELAND, Fla. — The Groveland Police Department said a pilot is dead after a plane crashed Friday morning in Groveland.
Police went to the crash site after the small two-seat plane went down near Sorrel Way and Homestead Drive around 11:15 a.m.
The pilot was the only one on board the aircraft, according to police.
"The report is, as soon as he got airborne, he started having engine problems and just went to the left side of the runway," said Dan Boggs of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officials said the plane came from the Florida Flying Gators Airpark at 10817 Libby Road.
The pilot's name has not yet been released.
Neighbors who live near the park were stunned to hear about the crash.
"It's terrible," said Kathy Smith. "It's shocking. It's very, very sad to hear that."
The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the crash and is investigating.
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