Jose Wejebe Crash: Details Released On Accident That Killed 'Spanish Fly' Fishing Show Host

Details Released On 'Spanish Fly' Host Plane Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary report on the crash that killed "Spanish Fly" host Jose Wejebe, who was flying an "experimental amateur-built" plane from Everglades City to Merritt Island Airport.

Investigators learned that on April 6 Wejebe, 54, took off from the Everglades City runway and rose upwards of 150 feet when the plane took a sharp right turn and started nose-diving.

According to the report, Wejebe's plane crashed 275 yards from the runway, where winds were estimated at 14 mph.

Although Webeje reportedly had around 1,000 hours of total flight experience, the amateur-built aircraft he piloted are known for being accident-prone.

According to a Miami New Times cover story on the kit airplane trend in Florida, "home-built aircraft are 5 times as likely to crash as professionally made planes. And if an accident does happen, their pilots are 7 times as likely to die."

Wejebe was born in Havana and fled Cuba with his family when Fidel Castro took power. In 1970s, he was a diver and animal trainer at the Miami Seaquarium. In recent years, he was host of TV show "Spanish Fly" on the Outdoor Channel.

On April 15, family, friends and fans gathered at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum for a memorial for the affable outdoorsman.

Click below for scenes from Wejebe on the water.

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Jose Wejebe

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