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Newly hired CEO for Ocala Health System dies in Ocala plane crash

The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating the cause of the plane crash near the Ocala International Airport on Friday afternoon.  The crash killed the pilot who was the newly hired CEO of Ocala Health System, P. Allen Golson and injured his wife.  Golson, 55, was from Macon, Ga., where he had been CEO of Coliseum Health System for seven years.  Golson's wife Carol was taken to West Marion Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.  They were the only two people aboard the plane.  The Golsons were flying to Ocala from the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon.
Sixteen Ocala firefighters including an Aircraft Rescue Firefighting truck responded to the crash site just off the airport property around 12:30.  At the scene they found the twin piston Cessna aircraft on fire, as well as the grass surrounding the plane.  Several bystanders who initially attempted to assist at the scene suffered smoke inhalation and were evaluated by paramedics. One bystander was transported to the hospital.

Donna is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.