Coast Guard finds body of neurosurgeon killed in small plane crash off Florida Panhandle

Neurosurgeon dies in plane crash off Florida Coast

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — A neurosurgeon has died after the plane he was flying crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle. His passenger also was killed in the incident.

WKRG-TV says Dr. Evan Zeiger was flying a World War II era plane in formation with several other aircraft when the crash occurred Saturday. The report says Zeiger came from Birmingham, Ala.

It says Coast Guard rescue crews found Zeiger, his passenger and the wreckage in water 50 feet deep. It does not identify the passenger.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann says the Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported the crash at 12:45 p.m. Saturday near Miramar Beach. The aircraft is reported to be a T-6 Texan trainer plane.

Information from: WKRG-TV, www.wkrg.com/