Pilot in Carrabelle crash flying an "experimental" plane

February 5, 2018

CARRABELLE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Friends and family are speaking out about the death of a pilot of a plane that crashed Monday morning in Franklin County.

The Carrabelle Police Department said the pilot, Gregory Newman, was unconscious when he was located following the crash.

Friend and fellow pilot Tim Sullivan says Newman's truest passion was flying.

"His background was extensive," Sullivan said, "He was flying since he was 18. He flew all types of aircrafts in all types of situations.

There has been no official word on what caused the crash, but witnesses believe it was a mechanical issue.

"He was in an experimental plane, he had built his own aircraft," Carrabelle mayor Brenda La Paz said.

But friends say they hope that somewhere he is still doing what he loves.

"He was a high flyer all his life, so we hope he's flying high right now," La Paz said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the crash.

February 5, 2018

CARRABELLE, Fla. (WCTV) -- One person is in the hospital following a small plane crash in Franklin County.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Carrabelle Police Department and EMS responded to the scene on Monday morning.

FCSO says the plane went down in a wooded area near the Carrabelle airport. It is not yet known what caused the plane to crash.

One person aboard the aircraft was life-flighted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. The Carrabelle Police Department

www.facebook.com/CarrabellePD/">says the pilot suffered unknown injuries

and was unconscious when located.

WCTV has reached out to the sheriff's office for an update on the victim's condition but have not yet heard back.