LP Plane Crash Claims 2 Lives

LAKE PLACID - A pilot and passenger died after a fixed wing, single engine Piper Cub airplane crashed near Placid Lakes Airport at about 12:15 p.m., Friday, said Capt. Paul Blackman of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

There were no other passengers in the single plane accident.

Word spread like wildfire around the Caladium Capital of the World that citrus grover owner Mason Smoak piloted the plane. Blackman positively identified Smoak as the pilot, and David Maehr's name was release later as the other victim in the crash. He was a visiting scientist at Archbold Biological Center specializing in bear research.

According to a press release from Archbold, Smoak and Maehr were conducting aerial surveys of Highlands County black bears when the accident.

Within 150 feet of the police tape used to block off Seneca Drive, at least a dozen or more family members and friends gathered in a prayer circle less than two hours after the tragedy occurred.
Gray clouds stood overhead as thunder rumbled in the distance where a rainstorm had recently passed.

Blackman said the wreckage was "straight up and down."

The sheriff's captain said several people witnessed the crash.

"The plane came out of the sky and went straight into the earth," Blackman said witnesses told him. "It apparently stalled, did a 360 and went straight down."

Smoak was serving as both the president of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association and the Chairman of the Heartland Agricultural Coalition.

Family friend Matt Elliott comforted Smoak's wife. He broke away from the family and talked about Smoak.

"I flew with him a bunch of times," said Elliott. "He was an outstanding pilot. He was a great dad, a great husband and a great friend. This is a tragedy for Lake Placid."

Town councilman Charlie Wilson was at the site and talked about Smoak and his wife Tracee. Smoak was the father of two boys and a girl.

"If there was ever two people in love, it was them," Wilson said.
Town councilman Ray Royce remembered Smoak.

"We lost a truly great guy and a lot of people lost a good friend," said Royce. "He was one of those guys who puts a smile on your face.

"The most important thing is that Mason was a great father, husband, son and friend. He will be truly missed in our local and agricultural community."

Maehr was on sabbatical from the University of Kentucky, where he was an associate professor of of conservation biology. He was an expert on bears, elk and other animals.

An FAA search of the plane's tail number, N988PC, showed that the plane was registered to owner 3/4 Time LLC, 1025 Country Club Road 17 N., Lake Placid. The plane is a 1989 Piper manufactured PA-18-150.