2 Men Survive Plane Crashing Into Lake Hanock Near Bartow

BARTOW, FL -- Two men were rescued following a plane crash in Lake Hancock in the 2000 block of U.S. 98 South, Farm Road and Smith Lane on Friday, Sept. 28.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the small Piper plane crashed around 1:35 p.m. in a shallow, marshy area at the southern tip of the lake. Both the pilot and passenger were able to get out of the plane and were standing on the wing when rescue workers arrived.

The pilot, 70-year-old William Gonzalez Jr. of Valrico, and his grandson, 21-year-old Joseph Berninghaus of Tampa, took off from Boca Raton earlier in the day and were heading to the Lakeland Regional Airport when the plane crashed.

Since the plane wasn't accessible by land, the sheriff's agricultural crimes unit and Polk County Fire Rescue personnel used an airboat and a shallow water surface drive boat to rescue the two men.

Both men complained of back pain but had no major injuries. They were taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment. Gonzalez was kept in the hospital overnight.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission transported Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigators to the scene to determine the cause of the crash.

Images via Polk Sheriff

Polk Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Motta, left, and Deputy Justin Salas assist Pasco County Fire Rescue Personnel.

Deputy Aaron Motta makes his way through a marshy area.

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