Polk County, Florida — Around 11:00 a.m. on March 8, 2014, Sharon L. Trembley, 87, of Mulberry was doing “touch and goes” in his private Cessna Plane from the South Lakeland Airport near 7500 Coronet Road in the Mulberry area.
During his third pass, the passenger-side wing of his plane became entangled with a parachutist and cut the strings of his parachute.
The parachutist, John S. Frost, 49, of Gainesville, was flung through the air then slammed into the ground. The plane then nose-dived into the ground before falling to its final resting place. The incident occurred at between 75-100 feet above the ground.
Both men were transported by ambulance to LRMC. Frost was treated and released. Trembley is being held for observation. Neither received serious injuries.
Tim Telford, whom is in Florida from McClure, Ohio was witness to the incident and was able to snap photos as it happened.
The NTSB and FAA were notified and have taken over the investigation.