David Siambanes and Dawn Stone died after a Lancair Evolution crashed in woods shortly after departing Tampa Executive Airport.
TAMPA, FL — A pediatric spine surgeon and a nurse practitioner were killed Thursday when a small plane crashed in a wooded area near Tampa Executive Airport, authorities said. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office identified the pilot as David Siambanes, 59, and the passenger as Dawn Stone, 53.
The Sept. 3 crash happened shortly after the aircraft departed the airport in eastern Hillsborough County. The sheriff’s 911 dispatch center received a call reporting the crash at 8:17 a.m. near U.S. Highway 301 and Maislin Drive. Deputies arrived minutes later and found the airplane on fire in the wooded area. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze, and both people aboard were found dead.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Lancair Evolution, a single-engine airplane. FAA registration records for an Evolution with tail number N305PV list EKPHEUGO LLC of Tampa as the registered owner. Florida corporate records identify Siambanes as the manager and registered agent of EKPHEUGO LLC. Federal authorities have not announced what caused the aircraft to crash.
Siambanes was an osteopathic physician who specialized in treating children with spinal disorders. He founded the Children’s Scoliosis Center and served as director of the scoliosis center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, according to local reports. Florida Department of Health records showed his osteopathic physician license was active at the time of the crash.
Siambanes had spent years treating children with scoliosis, cerebral palsy and other serious spinal conditions. Following his death, colleagues in the Tampa Bay medical community remembered his work with young patients and their families. The Bonati Spine Institute, which said Siambanes did not work for the institute, described him in a public statement as a highly respected pediatric spine surgeon who had helped many children during his career.
Stone was a nurse practitioner with AdventHealth who specialized in adult bone health, including care for patients with osteoporosis and related conditions. AdventHealth said Stone was a valued member of its health care team and that her death was being deeply felt by colleagues who had worked alongside her.
“Dawn dedicated herself to caring for others and her loss is deeply felt by the colleagues and care teams who had the privilege of working alongside her,” AdventHealth said in a statement released after the crash. The health system also extended condolences to Stone’s family, loved ones and colleagues.
Emergency officials said the crash site was accessible to responding fire crews despite being in a wooded area. Firefighters brought the aircraft fire under control after reaching the scene. Sheriff Chad Chronister called the deaths a tragic loss and said local authorities would continue working with federal investigators.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, with the NTSB leading the federal investigation. The FAA said two people were aboard the Lancair Evolution when it went down around 8:15 a.m. No official determination of the probable cause had been released as of Saturday, and investigators had not publicly identified a mechanical failure, pilot action or other factor responsible for the crash.
The investigation remains active. Federal investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, available flight information and other evidence before determining what led to the fatal crash.
Author note: Last updated September 5, 2026.