Valdosta man killed in Jacksonville plane crash

10:22 PM, Dec 31, 2011   |    comments
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Police have identified the pilot who died in a plane crash Saturday.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, William J. Eubanks, 32, Valdosta, Ga, died when the plane he was piloting crashed.

The plane went down in a shopping center parking lot at Atlantic Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road near Craig Airport.

JSO says the pilot was the only person on board.

The plane is a single engine Piper aircraft. It's registered to Flying Weaners Inc. of Jacksonville. 

The plane hit a truck in the parking lot when it went down about 11:15 a.m., but no one on the ground was hurt.

Witnesses say the plane was carrying a banner behind it, dropped the banner in a field, and then the plane itself crashed.

One eastbound lane of Atlantic Boulevard was blocked, but is now back open.

FAA investigators are on scene and NTSB investigators are on their way to the crash site.