Timothy Johnson, Miami man, identified in deadly John Prince Park plane crash Saturday

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Timothy Johnson, 33, of Miami, was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash happened in front of afternoon picnickers at the suburban Lake Worth park.
Photographer: Katie Johnson, WPTV
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Posted: 12/10/2012

By: Katie Johnson

LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has identified the pilot killed in a plane crash inside John Prince Park Saturday.

Timothy Johnson, 33, of Miami, was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash happened in front of afternoon picnickers at the suburban Lake Worth park.

According to the sheriff's office, Johnson took off from Lantana Airport to fly to Tamiami Airport in Miami.

The plane was observed at an awkward angle upon takeoff, banked, then disappeared nose down into the ground, where it crashed and burned, according to PBSO.

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the wreckage Monday. They say it may take a year until a cause of the crash is determined.

Witnesses say they saw the plane go down, adding that one of the props appeared to be stalled, while the other continued to spin. They said the plane flew straight up into the air then took a nosedive into the park.

Johnson was the only person in the aircraft at the time. He was certified to fly the Cessna Twin Engine 421 C he was piloting. The plane can fit up to eight passengers.

Investigators will split their time between John Prince Park and the Lantana Airport to examine the remaining parts of the plane. They say they must investigate the "perishable" parts of the crash first before examining the documented variables, such as the pilot's experience.

The wreckage was guarded by deputies until NTSB investigators arrived.