Student pilot killed in small plane crash in Florida

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a student pilot is dead following a small plane crash in Florida.

Treasure Coast Newspapers reports that the crash happened Tuesday morning near Vero Beach.

Federal Aviation Administration records show that the plane was traveling from Vero Beach Regional Airport to Palm Beach County Glades Airport in Pahokee.

The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office says the Piper PA-28 Cherokee disappeared shortly after takeoff, and the crash was spotted in a wooded area by a sheriff’s office helicopter pilot about 90 minutes later.

Officials didn’t immediately identify the pilot, but a FlightSafety International spokesman confirmed that the pilot was their student. No one else was aboard the plane.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

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Information from: The Stuart (Fla.) News, http://www.tcpalm.com