A 64-year-old pilot from South Carolina was killed when his plane crashed Tuesday morning near Micanopy in Marion County.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies, Marion County Emergency Management officials and Marion County Fire Rescue responded to the crash site shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. When units arrived on the scene, they discovered a small experimental type aircraft that had crashed into a pasture adjacent to a residence. MCFR then found the pilot, Riley Stevens inside the wreckage and pronounced him dead. It has been determined that he was the plane’s sole occupant. Steven resides in Anderson, S.C. and he was traveling from Sebring, Florida back to South Carolina when the crash occurred.
Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the scene and began their investigation and the National Transportation Safety Board will also respond as well. MCSO Major Crimes detectives will be working the death investigation. Although the crash occurred during a period of severe weather for this portion of Marion County, it has not yet been determined if this was a contributing factor in the crash.