Dad killed, daughter injured in plane crash

SARASOTA, Fla. — Authorities say a father was killed and his daughter seriously injured while walking on the sand when a small plane crash landed along Florida’s Gulf Coast near Venice Beach.

Wendy Rose, community affairs manager for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, said the pilot and one passenger weren’t hurt when the Piper Cherokee landed Sunday afternoon. She said investigators, who originally thought one person was aboard, later determined the plane had two occupants.

Rose’s statement says the girl was airlifted to a hospital and is believed to be in critical condition. She said the Venice airport originally alerted the sheriff’s office to a pilot in distress, adding the plane was unable to return to the airport.

National Transportation and Safety Board investigators have headed to the site.