Small Plane Crashes in South Hillsborough County

A Bradenton resident was airlifted to the hospital after he crashed his small experimental ultralite in a cow pasture off U.S. 41.

Eugene Massa, 84, of 4033 Lake Bayshore Dr., Bradenton, took off from the Manatee Airport in his small fixed-wing ultralite. At about 9:30 a.m., the airport notified the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office that Massa had reported engine problems at 300 feet and had possibly gone down.

A search of the area led to the discovery of the plane in a cow pasture
located at 6528 U.S. 41, near the Manatee County line. The crash
occurred on private property about 500 feet off U.S. 41.

Massa was alert and talking when he was airlifted to Blake Hospital in
Manatee County.

The remainder of the investigation will be conducted by the FAA.

The pilot was the only occupant of the plane.