Mechanical issues after Boca Raton takeoff to TLH, a baffling flight path and 3 dead

BOCA RATON — Three people were killed and another injured after a six-seater Cessna 310 plane crashed onto Military Trail near Glades Road on Friday morning.

The plane had departed Boca Raton Airport around 10:12 a.m. and was carrying a pilot and two passengers. It made a series of bizarre loops and witnesses said it was dangerously close to the ground before it crashed onto the busy street where, remarkably, only affected one driver.

Bound for Tallahassee International Airport, the aircraft hit the ground and immediately erupted into flames, sending up large plumes of smoke that nearby homes, offices and schools witnessed. The crash did not directly hit anyone, but it forced a northbound driver of a Toyota Prius to swerve and hit a tree. The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was able to exit the car and find safety despite being surrounded by fireballs and smoke.

“Three souls were on board, and we can confirm they were all fatalities,” Boca Raton Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Michael LaSalle told reporters shortly after the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, but the Boca Raton Police Department identified the three passengers killed on Friday Night as:

• Brooke Stark, 17, of Delray Beach

• Robert Stark, 81, of Boca Raton

• Stephen Stark, 54, of Delray Beach

It was not clear why they were headed to TLH airport.

The plane was six-seater built in 1977, a NTSB spokesman said. It was in the air for about 8-10 minutes before it hit the ground. Fire rescue crews were able to extinguish the fire, leaving the charred wreckage across the road and on the nearby train tracks.

Kurt Gibson, the spokesman, did not offer any clues as to why the plane went down other than to say, “our mission is to figure out what happens, why it happens and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.”

He said the wreckage of the aircraft, which had a registration number N8930N, will be examined on the ground before being transported to a salvage facility in Jacksonville for further analysis.

Boca Raton plane crash: Aircraft made multiple loops in bizarre track before crash

The aircraft had “some mechanical issues at takeoff and went down on Military Trail, about a mile from the airport,” LaSalle said.

Shortly after takeoff, the plane ventured in an unconventional path, circling the airport and the vicinity of Boca Raton, playback data from FlightRadar24 indicates.

The multiple circular paths suggest the pilot was struggling to straighten the path of the aircraft, but officials were not sure what the cause was for the irregular direction.

Gibson said the standard procedure for the investigation will be a preliminary report in 30 days followed by a 12-24 month report that will offer final analysis and probable cause for the crash.

He said although the plane was built nearly 50 years ago, there are “thousands of other planes that are older” and that all planes are fully inspected and certified before flying.

The plane does not have a recording “black box” but Gibson said there are other parameters that will be able to help with the investigation. He added that multiple factors will go into the investigation, including pilot qualifications, 72-hour history for the pilot, maintenance records, wreckage details and environmental factors.

Aside from the NTSB investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are actively investigating the cause of the crash.

The twin-engine plane is registered to Reprop LLC 310 Series, a corporation in Wilmington, Delaware, Federal Aviation Administration records show.

Boca Raton plane crash: Local officials offer condolences

Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton) said her thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.

“I am incredibly grateful to the first responders, law enforcement officers, and emergency personnel who arrived with urgency and bravery at the scene,” Berman said in a statement. “Their swift action helped prevent further tragedy in an unthinkable situation. The loss of life in such a sudden and violent manner is heartbreaking, and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected.”

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Boca Raton Scott Singer also addressed the media Friday.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a plane crash occurred earlier today within our community. At this time, details are still emerging, and we are working closely with emergency responders and authorities,” he said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event. We ask for patience and respect for the families involved as investigations continue.”

North Military Trail between Northwest 19th Street and Butts Road remained closed Friday night. The Interstate 95 overpass at Glades Road eastbound and westbound reopened around 2 p.m., Boca Police said.

Boca Raton plane crash: Airport has safe track record

Friday’s crash came one day after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York, killing six people.

Boca Raton’s airport is a state-owned, public-use airport about 2 miles northwest of downtown. It’s adjacent to Florida Atlantic University and can be seen from Interstate 95. It is designated as a general aviation transport facility governed by a seven-member Authority appointed by the City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County Commission.

The Boca Raton Airport has been a safe airport over the years. The last significant crash came in 2000, according to the Flight Safety Foundation.

A Learjet 55 collided after takeoff at 2,400 feet southwest of the airport with an Extra – EA3005 — that had departed the Pompano Air Park. Four were killed. Ultimately, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled pilot error for failing to maintain a visual lookout for other planes.

Also, in February 2025, an Embraer Praetor 600 jet hit a bird during a charter flight near the airport that damaged the plane’s nose. There were no injuries.

Anyone who has audio or video information is encouraged to contact authorities at [email protected].

Jessica Abramsky contributed to this report.

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida plane crash: Mechanical issues put Cessna in instant trouble