UPDATE — SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

The pilot killed in Monday’s plane crash near Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville has been identified as 75-year-old Dr. Michael Hood of Newport, Tennessee, a longtime family physician.

Hood was the sole occupant of the Mooney M20F when it crashed shortly after takeoff. Columbia Boulevard/State Road 405 has since reopened. The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the crash; no probable cause has been announced.

The original IRC Media report continues below.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A pilot was killed Monday morning after a single-engine airplane crashed near Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, striking trees and power lines before catching fire as the pilot attempted to return to the airport following reported engine trouble.

The crash happened at approximately 10:16 a.m. along Columbia Boulevard, also known as State Road 405. The aircraft was identified as a Mooney M20F.

According to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported engine trouble shortly after departing Space Coast Regional Airport and attempted to turn left to return to the runway. The aircraft crashed into trees and power lines and a post-crash fire followed.

The pilot was the sole occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene.

PILOT HAS NOT YET BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED

As of Monday afternoon, authorities had not publicly identified the pilot.

During an afternoon briefing, Titusville Police Deputy Chief Tyler Wright said investigators were still working to positively identify the pilot and that the Medical Examiner's Office would likely be involved.

Wright said police contacted out-of-state relatives of the person investigators believe was flying the aircraft because of the widespread attention surrounding the crash. Officials have not released the suspected pilot's name, and IRC Media will wait for official identification.

NTSB ARRIVES; ROAD CLOSURE COULD EXTEND INTO TUESDAY

The National Transportation Safety Board has now arrived in Titusville, extending the investigation and the traffic impact around the crash scene.

Titusville Police said both eastbound and westbound lanes of Columbia Boulevard would remain closed while investigators work, potentially into Tuesday. Police had earlier indicated eastbound lanes might reopen Monday afternoon, but the NTSB's arrival required the roadway to remain closed.

The city previously said a specialized company was traveling from Jacksonville to remove the aircraft. Drivers are being urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND POWER IMPACTS

Titusville firefighters extinguished the post-crash fire with assistance from the airport's crash crew. The FAA responded, and Titusville Police detectives are handling the death investigation while assisting federal investigators.

Florida Power & Light shut down part of the electrical grid near Sisson Road and Columbia Boulevard so emergency personnel could safely work around damaged power infrastructure. The city said repairs and restoration were expected to take several hours.

INVESTIGATION JUST BEGINNING

The NTSB investigation is in its early stages. Investigators will document the site, examine the wreckage and review available evidence as they work to determine why the aircraft experienced the reported engine problem.

No probable cause has been announced. IRC Media will update this story when authorities officially identify the pilot, reopen Columbia Boulevard or release additional findings.

IRC Media uses aggregated public data and verified sources; articles reviewed by editorial team to the best of our ability.