Plane crash kills hospital CEO

The newly named CEO of Ocala Health Systems, P. Allen Golson, died Friday when his plane crashed while attempting to land at Ocala International Airport.

Fire Rescue

A crashed plane sits in a field on SW 38th Street.

Golson, 55, was the pilot. His wife, Carol, was also on board and was saved by workers near the scene of the crash.

Golson had been named CEO early this month but had yet to start the position, which included supervision of Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Hospital. His wife was taken to the nearby West Marion facility, where she was reportedly in stable condition.

One of the workers who attempted the rescue was treated for smoke inhalation.

The Ocala International Airport control tower notified Ocala Fire Rescue of an aircraft crash Friday, and firefighters responded at 12:30 p.m. to the incident located off airport property, south of Southwest 38th Street in a vacant field. On arrival firefighters found a twin piston Cessna aircraft on fire, as well as the grass surrounding the aircraft.

Sixteen firefighters manning six fire apparatus including the Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (A.R.F.F.) truck responded to the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) was notified.