DUNEDIN, Fla. – A father and his young son escaped without reported injuries after engine trouble forced their small plane to make an emergency water landing near Honeymoon Island State Park on Sunday, July 12.
The incident was reported at approximately 12:38 p.m. near the park’s north beach. According to preliminary information from authorities, the plane experienced an engine problem while in the air before making what officials described as a controlled emergency landing.
The aircraft came to rest approximately 25 yards offshore.
Beachgoers Watched the Plane Come Down
People along the beach reported seeing the plane flying unusually low before it touched down in the water.
Several witnesses immediately moved toward the aircraft to help. By the time they reached it, however, the two occupants had already made it out of the plane and were heading toward the beach.
Emergency medical personnel evaluated both occupants after they reached shore. No injuries were reported, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office information.
The occupants were later identified in news reports as a father and his young son. Their names have not been publicly released.
Engine Trouble Reported Before Landing
A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration incident report identified the aircraft as a Mooney M20F and stated that it experienced engine trouble before landing in the water.
Officials have not yet released additional details about what caused the engine problem.
The close proximity to shore allowed both occupants to leave the aircraft and reach the beach without requiring a water rescue.
Small Fuel Leak Found Near Aircraft
After confirming that everyone was safe, response teams inspected the partially submerged plane for possible environmental hazards.
Marine personnel detected a small fuel leak in the surrounding water. Dunedin Fire Rescue Chief Michael Handoga later said the aircraft had no more than 25 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of the landing.
Part of the beach near the site was temporarily closed while crews responded and assessed the area. The aircraft was removed from the water later that day.
Dunedin Fire Rescue, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard and Florida State Parks personnel were among the agencies involved in the response.
The circumstances surrounding the emergency landing remain under investigation.