"Another Tragedy": Neighbors Say Lantana Airport Crash Was Expected

A Plane Crash Near a Residential Area Sparks Concerns About Airport Safety

Residents in the Lake Worth neighborhood were shocked to see the wreckage of a small plane being towed away on Tuesday afternoon — just 24 hours after a dramatic crash that sent ripples through the community. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m. on Monday, when a single-engine plane lost altitude shortly after taking off from Lantana Airport, also known as Palm Beach County Park Airport. It clipped a palm tree before crashing into a car on Lake Osborne Drive, which was carrying a family with two young boys.

Despite the severity of the crash, no one was seriously injured. Two pilots aboard the plane — Duncan MacLaren, 28, and Thomas Peters, 50 — were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Inside the car were Anita Cardenas, 46, and four other family members, who were also treated for precautionary reasons.

For many locals, the crash was not entirely unexpected. Residents living near the airport have long voiced concerns about its safety, citing a pattern of close calls and collisions. “We immediately think, ‘Oh, here’s another one,’” said Mary Adams De Villiers, a long-time resident. “It’s not foreign to us. And it’s sad that we’re just kind of waiting for the next one to come.”

A History of Concerns and Incidents

Lantana Airport has been at the center of growing frustration among nearby residents. The facility, which serves general aviation, is surrounded by homes, parks, and schools. It averages hundreds of flights a day and supports flight schools, helicopter traffic, and jet operations — a mix that some describe as dangerously overcrowded.

The airport does not have an air traffic control tower, and there are reports of chaotic operations, including planes and helicopters using taxiways as runways. “This is mayhem,” said William Coakley, a former pilot who trained at the airport in the 1960s. “Pilots call it ‘the beehive.’ You’ve got multiple aircraft launching from multiple points, no tower, and no data being collected about what’s really happening overhead.”

Residents have raised concerns about noise, flight paths, and safety. CBS12 News has documented previous incidents, including hard landings, skidded jets, and fatal crashes in nearby areas. Despite these issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has maintained that complaints about flight volume and noise fall outside the scope of its local offices.

Calls for Accountability and Change

In the wake of the latest crash, residents are demanding more accountability. Some are pushing for real-time monitoring systems to track flights, altitudes, and noise levels. Others argue that enforcing existing policies would go a long way in improving safety.

“We are the boots on the ground,” said June Bingham, a neighbor. “We see it every day. We file reports. We send emails. And it just falls on deaf ears.” She emphasized that the community is not asking for the airport to be shut down but rather for proper enforcement of regulations.

“Use the proper runways. Don’t fly low over our homes. Don’t take off at night. Follow the rules that are already supposed to be in place,” Bingham added.

Ongoing Investigation and Community Fears

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the crash. Meanwhile, residents on Lake Osborne Drive are left dealing with the aftermath, including missing fencing and fresh skid marks on the road.

For many, the fear is that this could be just the beginning. “We’ve already seen fatal crashes. We’ve had planes land in driveways. What more do they need?” De Villiers said. “Because the next time, we might not be so lucky.”

As the community waits for answers, the question remains: will officials finally step in to address the growing concerns about safety at Lantana Airport?