Embry-Riddle-Daytona student Nandish Patel, 22, was killed in the crash of a Cessna 140 at Spruce Creek Fly-In private airport (7FL6) in Port Orange, Florida, on Tuesday evening. Also on board the aircraft was Chase Zinn, 23, a May 2017 Riddle graduate and flight instructor at the school. Zinn was transported to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Spruce Creek. According to the NTSB, it banked left after departure and went down in some trees at the end of the runway after climbing no more than 200 feet above the ground. Zinn has been identified as the pilot of the aircraft.
No early indicators of possible causes of the accident have been discussed. At this time, the NTSB doesn’t believe the flight was for the purpose of training. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says the aircraft, a 1946 Cessna 140, was owned by Zinn’s family. The NTSB is on scene to investigate the accident. The is the second fatal crash involving an Embry-Riddle student in the last two months after an inflight breakup killed a student and examiner in early April.
