FAA, NTSB investigating small plane crash at Lake Weir

MARION COUNTY, Fla. - Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to a small plane crash on Lake Weir on Monday afternoon with assistance from Marion County Fire Rescue.

The single-engine Pitts Model 12 crashed into the lake around 1:34 p.m.  Authorities have confirmed at least two people were traveling on the plane.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating.  

No other details were immediately released, but according to witnesses, one person exited the aircraft before it crashed nose-first into the water. 

"We seen what looked like a guy jumping out of a plane," said boater Josh Hires.

"His parachute wasn't deployed," added Mandy Hires.  "We went over to the site, we looked around for him maybe hoping we could save him, and then we saw him, saw a parachute and pulled over to it and it was him."

No one on the water was injured, according to authorities.

The FAA said it will release the tail number of the aircraft after investigators verify it at the accident site.   The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates. Neither agency identifies people involved in aircraft accidents or incidents.

This story is developing, check back for updates.